Educational

Small Number Counts to 100 (Cree)

Speaker: 
Veselin Jungic
Mark Maclean
Rena Sinclair
Date: 
Sun, Nov 22, 2009 to Mon, Nov 23, 2009
Location: 
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
BIRS First Nations Math Education Workshop
Abstract: 

This short animation movie is a math education resource based on Aboriginal culture. For more information, visit: http://www.math.sfu.ca/~vjungic/SmallNumber.html This version of the video was recorded by Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn of the Pikani First Nation in Blackfoot. Special Thanks To: Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University Pacific Institute For Mathematical Sciences Sean O'Reilly, Arcana Studios The IRMACS Centre, Simon Fraser University

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Raising the Floor and Lifting the Ceiling: Math For All

Speaker: 
Sharon Friesen
Date: 
Fri, Apr 29, 2011
Location: 
SFU Harbour Center
PIMS, Simon Fraser University
Conference: 
Changing the Culture 2011
Abstract: 

"Math. The bane of my existence for as many years as I can count. I cannot relate it to my life or become interested in what I'm learning. I find it boring and cannot find any way to apply myself to
it since I rarely understand it." (high school student)
Today, mathematics education faces two major challenges: raising the floor by expanding achievement for all, and lifting the ceiling of achievement to better prepare future leaders in mathematics, as well as in science, engineering, and technology. At first glance, these appear to be mutually exclusive: But are they? Is it possible to design learning that engages the vast majority of students in higher mathematics learning? In this presentation, I will present the findings and discuss the implications from a research study that explored the ways to teach mathematics that both raised the floor and lifted the ceiling.

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Changing the Culture of Homework

Speaker: 
Justin Grey
Jamie Mulholand
Date: 
Fri, Apr 29, 2011
Location: 
SFU Harbour Center
PIMS, Simon Fraser University
Conference: 
Changing the Culture 2011
Abstract: 

Who do your students think their homework is for? Does attaching credit to homework promote student understanding, or encourage students to find answers by whatever means necessary? Are they focused on calculating the answer, or seeing the big picture? Is their homework grade a true reflection of their own understanding of the material, or does it better reflect the understanding of their "support network"?
In this workshop we will describe our efforts to improve student feedback and to promote good study skills in first and second year mathematics classes.

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As Geometry is Lost - What Connections are Lost? What Reasoning is Lost? What Students are Lost? Does it Matter?

Speaker: 
Walter Whitley
Date: 
Fri, Apr 29, 2011
Location: 
SFU Harbour Center
PIMS, Simon Fraser University
Conference: 
Changing the Culture 2011
Abstract: 

In a North American curriculum preoccupied with getting to calculus, we witness an erosion of geometric content and practice in high school. What remains is often detached from "making sense of the world", and from reasoning (beyond axiomatic work in University). We see the essential role of geometry in science, engineering, computer graphics and in solving core problems in applications put aside when revising math curriculum. A second feature is that most graduates with mathematics degrees are not aware of these rich connections for geometry.

We will present some samples of: what we know about early childhood geometry.; and then of the critical role of geometry and geometric reasoning in work in multiple fields outside of mathematics. With a perspective from "modern geometry", we note the critical role of transformations, symmetries and invariance in many fields, including mathematics beyond geometry.

With these bookends of school mathematics in mind, we consider some key issues in schools, such as which students are lost when the bridge of geometry is not there to carry them through (caught in endless algebra) and possible connections other subjects. We also consider the loss within these other disciplines. We will present some sample investigations and reasoning which can be supported by a broader more inclusive set of practices and which pays attention to geometric features and reasoning in various contexts. In particular, we illustrate the use of dynamic geometry investigations, hands on investigations and reflections, and making connections to deeper parts of the rest of mathematics and science.

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Emerging Aboriginal Scholars Summer Camp

Speaker: 
Melania Alvarez
Date: 
Thu, Sep 29, 2011
Location: 
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
Emerging Aboriginal Scholars
Abstract: 

From July 4 to August 5, 2011, the UBC First Nations House of Learning and PIMS ran a summer camp for grade 10 and 11 students with First Nations backgrounds. The camp combined academics and cultural components. In this video we meet some of the camp organizers and participants. Videography by Elle-Maija Tailfeathers.

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Small Number Counts to 100 (Blackfoot)

Speaker: 
Veselin Jungic
Mark Maclean
Rena Sinclair
Date: 
Sun, Nov 22, 2009
Location: 
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
BIRS First Nations Math Education Workshop
Abstract: 

This short animation movie is a math education resource based on Aboriginal culture. For more information, visit: http://www.math.sfu.ca/~vjungic/SmallNumber.html

This version of the video was recorded by Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn of the Pikani First Nation in Blackfoot.

Special Thanks To:
Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery
Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University
Pacific Institute For Mathematical Sciences
Sean O'Reilly, Arcana Studios
The IRMACS Centre, Simon Fraser University

Class: 
Subject: 

Small Number Counts to 100

Speaker: 
Veselin Jungic
Mark Maclean
Rena Sinclair
Date: 
Sun, Nov 22, 2009
Location: 
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
BIRS First Nations Math Education Workshop
Abstract: 

This short animation movie is a math education resource based on Aboriginal culture. For more information, visit: http://www.math.sfu.ca/~vjungic/SmallNumber.html

Special Thanks To:
Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery
Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University
Pacific Institute For Mathematical Sciences
Sean O'Reilly, Arcana Studios
The IRMACS Centre, Simon Fraser University

Class: 
Subject: 

Raising the Floor and Lifting The Ceiling: Math For All (Slides)

Author: 
Sharon Friesen
Date: 
Fri, Apr 29, 2011
Location: 
SFU, Vancouver, Canada
Conference: 
Changing the Culture
Abstract: 

Slides to accompany lecture notes.

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