Tulsa Math Teachers' Circle ARCHIVES
September 3, 2015
Facilitator: Janica Edmonds, The University of Tulsa
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Attendance: 25 Attendees
Sponsor(s): The University of Tulsa College of Engineering and Natural Sciences and The University of Tulsa Mathematics Department
We looked at geometry on a sphere by using balloons for the spheres. This Non-Euclidean Geometry presentation was a good introduction to geometry on a sphere. We used markers to draw lunes on the balloons and then found their surface areas based on the surface area of a sphere. The balloons really helped to make it more visual.
Handouts or Material Covered: Copy of Loons, Moons and Balloons and Warm Up Exercises
October 1, 2015
Facilitator: Kimberly Adams, The University of Tulsa and Tulsa MTC
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Attendance: 24 Attendees
Sponsor(s): The University of Tulsa College of Engineering and Natural Sciences and The University of Tulsa Mathematics Department
We played the new board game “Prime Climb”, by Dan Finkel and Katherine Cook of Math for Love. Kimberly did a great job of checking in with us to guide us and to answer questions, but basically she let us work on our own to figure out the patterns. We had time to figure out which strategies worked and which ones did not.
November 5, 2015
Facilitator: Levi Patrick, Secondary Mathematics Director for the State Department of Education
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Attendance: 29 Attendees
Sponsor(s): The University of Tulsa College of Engineering and Natural Sciences and The University of Tulsa Mathematics Department
Levi used the ideas from the book “5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions” to facilitate this problem solving session. How nice it was to see the practices from the book put to excellent use by Levi as he visited each group and then called on certain ones in a in a pre-determined order. It was a great way to model these excellent practices.
February 4, 2016
Facilitator: Jane Long, Stephen F. Austin State University and East Texas MTC
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Attendance: 29 Attendees
Sponsor(s): The University of Tulsa College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, The University of Tulsa Mathematics Department, and Rib Crib.
We had fun coloring the first 15 rows of Pascal’s Triangle according to certain rules, and then trying to figure out the probability of throwing a dart at the Triangle and landing on an even number. This was a challenging problem and so much fun.
Handouts or Material Covered: "Parents, Children, and Pascal's Triangle"
March 3, 2016
Facilitator: James Tanton, Ambassador to the Mathematical Association of America, currently serving as their Mathematician-at-Large.
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Handouts or Material Covered: All the Exploding Dots work - and more - can be found at www.gdaymath.com. (Click on "Exploding Dots"!)
April 14, 2016
Our Problem solving session will be in the form of a Math Auction. Join us and be prepared to utilize your very best problem solving skills! We will have lots of fun!!!
• A Mathematical auction is one of the most engaging math contests with rules that are easy to grasp. There is never a dull moment in the game because the problems are auctioned and re-auctioned when teams think they have a better solution. Teams may even re-bid if they come up with a new solution. The bid goes to the team with the most complete solution or the best solution for the problem. We will have judges to help decide the best solutions.
• Mathematical auction problems are not traditional math problems that can be either solved or not solved. Rather, they are open-ended problems with intermediate solutions that can be further improved. The intermediate solutions are easy to find; therefore, the students are always able to find a solution to an auction problem. The trick is to improve your answer to make an even better solution!
Facilitators: Kimberly Adams and Marilyn Howard
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