CLIME Connections

Vendors at NCTM Conference

2012-02-27T09:10:00.000-05:00

New! The speakers documents/handouts are now being posted on the NCTM site. Look for the folder or document icon next to the number of the session.

Speakers: If you are doing a technology related session, you can draw more attention to your session by updating your listing on our CLIME (technology sessions) website. Send me an email with what you like to include. Here's an example of an updated listing. (Click on image to see it on the web.)

Vendor Area - a Dynamic View

Click on image to visit the area

Can't make it to Philly?

For those of you that were hoping to present at the conference but either forgot to submit a proposal or were not accepted, there will be an online technology & math event on April 23rd sponsored by CLIME. Gary Stager will be one of the highlight presenter/discussant. You can join us at this time (exact time still to be determined) and share your ideas via electronic poster with the group. For more details contact Ihor at ihor@clime.org

CLIME Connections #102

Explore Dynamic Math Software at NCTM Conference

2012-02-24T15:29:00.001-05:00

Cool Flipbook

In the last blog Karen Greenhaus commented: "Thanks for mentioning the Sketchpad Explorer for the iPad! There are a lot of folks from Key Curriculum and KCP Tech doing presentations (Nick Jackiw, Scott Steketee, Daniel Scher, Bill Finzer, Cliff Konold, myself) with Sketchpad, TinkerPlots and Fathom. As always, focused on dynamic mathematics and using technology appropriately to engage students in learning math."

NCTM agrees. They highlighted these two presentations that Karen suggested:

Nick Jackiw,  Key Curriculum Press Technologies, Inc.  "Euclid’s Elements: An Interactive Geometry Perspective" - more
Cliff Konold,  University of Massachusetts Amherst.  "Breathing Life into Data and Chance with Tinkerplots 2.0" - more

Here's the other three mentioned by Karen (including hers):

Scott Steketee,  Key Curriculum Press Technologies, Inc. has two sessions:

"A Dynamic Number Approach to Mulitiplication" - more
"Function Composition without Confusion: A Geometric Approach with Sketchpad® 5" - more

Daniel Scher,  Key Curriculum Press Technologies, Inc.  "Dynamic Fractions in the Elementary School Classroom" - more
Bill Finzer, Key Curriculum Press Technologies, Inc. "Data Games: Learn Math Achieve Victory through Data Analysis" -more
Karen Greenhaus, "Using Appropriate Tools in Elementary Math: From Physical to Virtual" - more

CLIME is working on a dynamic list of the technology sessions that you can update by contacting the CLIME office. It will updated almost immediately!

Karen also points out that (in addition to the BuzzHub, and our CLIME Booth in the exhibit hall): "...Key will be doing a lot [in their booth], so [I] just wanted to pass that along so folks can come by and play with math and technology...we will have iPads and computers to explore."

Sounds good. The exhibit hall will be a good place to discover vendors who are promoting this dynamic vision of exploration tools. I'll spotlight some of them in the next issue of this CLIME Connections blog.

For more details on the conference, check out NCTM's cool Online Preview flipbook.
The hastag for following comments about the conference on Twitter is #nctm12
CLIME Connections #101

NCTM Conference Preview - Part 2

2012-02-09T10:32:00.014-05:00

I’ve been going through the conference session descriptions and have some good news to report. Of the 745 sessions listed in the NCTM's online program 268 have a technology theme. That's almost 36% which is almost double the number of such sessions that were at last year’s conference in Indianapolis. Of course, it helps that technology is the NCTM’s 2011-2012 annual conference "theme of the year.”

A session is included if the title or description
contains a technology key word.

Here's the list of keywords (in no particular order.)

Below is the frequency chart and a wordle of these terms. (Click on image for larger view.)

Click on figure for larger image.

This frequency listing gives clues as to what the NCTM math community thinks is important to discuss regarding technology. Here are some highlights:

As expected the “umbrella” word technology appears 225 times in 200 sessions.
Software is mentioned in 31 sessions. This includes a wide variety of types from web/cloud-based applets, Geogebra, Google Earth, etc. to those that have to reside on your computer which includes the long time favorite - Geometer’s Sketchpad.*
Next comes the TI-Nspire calculator with 30 sessions. There are also 10 sessions on using the TI-Navigator network.
In addition to calculators hardware (mostly in the form of Smartboards) is the attention grabber for many sessions. Also, and for the first time, there are several sessions about the "new wave" of handhelds (i.e. iPads) in the mix.
To see CLIME's full listing of tech related sessions (first draft) click here.

If you are a speaker and would like to update your session description which is the same as the one you sent in last May to NCTM, I can update it for you on our site. Go to CLIME technology-themed sessions and review your listing there. Then let me know (by email) if you want to change anything, share more info or add some reference links. I will make the changes for you immediately.

One last thought: What's missing from the program?
A glaring omission for me is that there is no overt reference to the blogging that math teachers are doing something that Dan Meyer** and others have popularized and what I consider to be the most important contribution to math education in recent years. Math bloggers (and tweeters) are changing the landscape of how we are learning about math teaching and learning. (More about this in my next blog entry.)

CLIME Connections #100

*There is now a sketch player (Sketchpad Explorer) available for the Apple iPad.
**Dan is speaking at NCTM (See his listing - session #474.)
See also the the 25 sessions in the Learn<->Reflect Technology Strand.

CLIME's Resolution is implemented!

2012-01-25T20:20:00.003-05:00

Mark Workman, the director of conference services at NCTM, sent me a letter in response to our proposal (see CC blog 92) which included the following:

We are pleased to inform you new this year, we will be introducing a technology supported area called the “BuzzHub” at the NCTM 2012 Annual Meeting […] in Philadelphia. This is in addition to offering speakers the most current A/V choices at no charge for their presentations. Also complementary wireless access will be provided in the concourses and Overlook Area in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Some of the “BuzzHub” offerings include:

“Member Showcase” providing technology support to update your membership information and more.
“Social Networking Lounge" is an area for attendees to sit, relax, access WiFi (paid for by NCTM), charge their devices (through electrical outlets), mingle and network with other attendees and stay connected with the latest NCTM social media. This large lounge will also feature live Twitter and Facebook feeds will be displayed on monitors.
“Internet Station” computers provided for attendees to check email or access the line conference planner.
“NCTM Presentation Spotlight Stage” is a place for attendees to stop by and listen to short sessions and to include NCTM journal editors discussing how to write an article NCTM journals and become a reviewer, technology supported short sessions on Coretools research, Online resources and Illuminations and many other exciting sessions.

We are excited to showcase this new area and enhancing NCTM and the technology experience for all. Thank you for submitting the proposed resolution. [See entire letter - PDF.]

This is very good news. I'll update you on details in future blog entries. I hope to see you either at the CLIME booth #1337 or the BuzzHub in April.

Clime Connections #99

Weekend in Philly - Educon 2.4

2012-01-23T18:25:00.006-05:00

This weekend I'll be at the Educon 2.4 Conference where I'll be leading a conversation entitled "Math 2.0 and the Wannado Curriculum." Here's the description:

The power of Web 2.0 is just beginning to become a part of the conscieness of the average math teacher. Historically, emerging media is usually tamed to fit in with the grammar (current paradigm) of school. How can we avoid the same pitfalls with Web 2.0? My response is to create math curriculums that kids actually want to do (i.e. via simulations & games). Lead discussant will pose potential pitfalls and conundrums which the group will try to unravel.

I'll be sharing about the conference on Twitter @climeguy as well as #educon. And a lot more via blog.

If you are going to Educon let me know via this form.

CLIME Connections #98

New Buzzhub at NCTM Annual Meeting

2012-01-15T14:19:00.001-05:00

Full page announcement

Look what's new this year. Does this mean the Cyber Cafe is no more? Will there be Wifi in the Buzzhub? Not sure yet. Will find out.
Click on image for the full page announcement taken from the preview brochure for the conference that I just received in the mail yesterday.

Here's the description from the announcement:

Get connected at the NEW BuzzHub
Download, upload, and get connected at the BuzzHub. With a social networking lounge, Internet station and the Presentation Spotlight and CTM's buzz hub is the central place for attendees to network and connect - plus you'll be surrounded by exhibits with advanced resources and technology to test and explorer. Stop by the BuzzHub in the exhibit hall to:

Network with teachers coaches supervisors and other educators.
Check out free online resources and activities for your classroom.
Surf the web and check your email.
Learn how to make your membership work for you.
Stay connected with the latest social media updates.
Collect free resources and activity packets.
Hear special presentations from online resource specialists and journal editors.
Charge your devices and relax- be sure to BYOD (bring your own device)!

Clime Connections #97

Technology's role in Math Education - A preconference discussion

2012-01-07T12:13:00.004-05:00

This year (2011-2012) NCTM is focusing on technology at their regional meetings and the upcoming annual conference in April. CLIME will once again be actively supporting this initiative. In Philly, CLIME will be exhibiting, presenting, tweeting and waving the Math 2.0 flag as much as possible. As a friend of CLIME I hope you will join us in supporting this initiative whether you are attending the conference or participating at a distance. Here is the first of a series of preview blogs leading up to the main event during the week of April 23rd.

NCTM writes:

The intent of this yearlong focus on technology is to help teachers, school leaders, and teacher educators expand their view of how technology can be used as a tool to [1] support effective mathematics teaching, [2] enhance mathematics learning, and [3] influence what mathematics is taught. (Source: Strand Goals & Overview)

What are your views on these three goals? I'll be thinking about my responses between now and the end of the conference in April and I hope you will engage me in a blog-style conversation by posting a comment.

Tech sessions in Philly
In my last blog entry I put up a one page “at a glance” summary of all the sessions in NCTM’s technology strand. I now have a more detailed version of the sessions here. Unfortunately, these descriptions were submitted last May and do not include any links to more information about the session or the speaker(s). The CLIME descriptions are at the moment (1/6/12) rather "boring" since I have not as yet invited the speakers to update their listing. (Since I'm on the list, I'll invite myself first. Check out my addition here.) So if you are speaker or involved in some way with the learn/reflect technology strand I invite you to review your session description and send me more details i.e. a photo, links to relevant websites such as your powerpoint (or other) presentation, blogs and especially links to your handouts.

If you are doing a technology session at the conference and it's not part of the tech strand please send me details as well and I will include you in my next listing.

Technology's role in math education
NCTM has posted 4 questions for folks attending the Strand sessions to reflect on and share responses at the debriefing session (#283). If you have any comments, answers or questions about these questions, please share them with a reply.

Coming soon in future blog entries

There are a lot more technology related sessions than just the ones in the tech strand. NCTM has listed 99 sessions (if you search with the key word technology.) I will have a dynamic version of those sessions and others that I find in my next entry.

NCTM has a personal scheduling planner that you can use to make a print copy of the sessions you want to attend or download the listing to your smart phone. Next time I'll share my experiences with using it.

CLIME has sent a resolution to NCTM to present to the Affiliate Delegate Assembly at the NCTM conference. (See draft with comments in a previous post.) More about this later.

CLIME is planning an online event on April 23rd. Gary Stager will be “keynoting” with his presentation on “Electrifying Children’s Mathematics.” If you are interested in participating in this event please let me know so I can personally respond to you about it.

You can subscribe to receive CLIME Connections by email here.
Clime.blog.96

Technology Strand Details for Annual NCTM Conference 2012 is now available!

2011-12-05T10:17:00.004-05:00

At a Glance

Here's the agenda for this all day (Thursday, 4/26/12) Technology Focus Strand. For speaker information click on "At a Glance" figure on left.

It will be of bit like a chinese menu with several choices for 3 of the 5 time slots.

Altogether there are 25 sessions. Participants following the strand should attend the opening kickoff, choose at least one other sessions from 3 time slots and finally participate in the Learn<->Reflect session at 3:30. [more]

Keynote speakers announced
Diane Ravitch & Ed Burger. More detail about their presentation: (Diane) (Ed)

Featured Technology inspired Presentations...

George Hart, The Museum of Mathematics - more
Nick Jackiw,  Key Curriculum Press Technologies, Inc.  "Euclid’s Elements: An Interactive Geometry Perspective" - more
Cliff Konold,  University of Massachusetts Amherst.  "Breathing Life into Data and Chance with Tinkerplots 2.0" - more
Dan Meyer,  Stanford University.  Why Students Hate Word Problems - more
Jim Rubillo,  DeSales University.  Are We Using New Technology Strategically? - more

And one more that I would include in the featured list is the kickoff session for Thursday's technology strand.

Thomas P. Dick,   Guidelines for Choosing and Using Technology in the Mathematics Classroom - more

If you are planning to attend the conference I hope you will stop by the CLIME booth to say hello and/or catch my session on Thursday at 11:00am.

Math Learning 2.0: New Vision for a Web 2.0 World - more

Can't make it to Philly?
For those of you that were hoping to present at the conference but either forgot to submit a proposal or were not accepted, there will be an online technology & math event the week of April 23rd sponsored by CLIME. Gary Stager will be one of the presenters/discussants.

Notes
Much more detail about all the above in my next blog entry.

Wannado Math at Educon 2.4

2011-11-14T12:40:00.001-05:00

Climeguy and Math 2.0 will be participating in the conversations at Educon 2.4 in Philadelphia next January. Here's the description of the conversation I'm leading:

Title: Math 2.0 and the Wannado Curriculum
Description (short and extended): With todays push for college, students are forced to follow the Algebra-Geometry-Algebra II Royal Road to Calculus (RRtC) with most coming up empty about what math is all about. Web 2.0 offers the possibility of a new paradigm where students actually want to do the math.

The power of Web 2.0 is just beginning to become a part of the consciousness of the average math teacher. Historically, the potential of emerging technologies is usually tamed to fit in with the grammar (current paradigm) of school. How can we avoid the same pitfalls with Web 2.0? One response is to create math curriculums that kids actually want to do (i.e. via simulations & games). Lead discussant will pose potential pitfalls and barriers, which the group will explore and offer ideas for a path that will lead us out of the wilderness of the old "hafta-do" curriculum paradigm to a new one where students actively want to do it!

Note: I borrowed and edited the logo above from Wannado City* which was an indoor role-playing amusement center in Florida which closed earlier this year. (Maybe I can get permission to use it. Or just do a redesign.)

*Where kids can do what they wanna' do. I hope Wannado Math will do better. Read article about the demise of Wannado City.

NCTM Regional Meeting Highlights

2011-11-10T09:41:00.001-05:00

The main highlight for me was Karim Ani's presentation and his visit to the CLIME booth afterwards where he continued conversations he started earlier at his talk. For those of you who like Dan Meyer's work this is the guy to watch. He runs a shop called mathalicious.com where he is raising the bar on curriculum development with his own brand of quality math lessons.

NCTM Regional - Atlantic City

If you missed him at the regionals he will be speaking at the NCTM annual meeting in Philly next April thanks to a "write in" campaign by his fans - including me.
News Briefs

The Resolution to the delegate assembly (see previous blog) was submitted and will be reviewed this month for inclusion in Delegate Assembly agenda.
Michael Schaughnessy, NCTM's president says in John Lennon style "Give the Common Core Standards a Chance" Read here. Are they really that bad?
Sue Hellman reports that The Computer Based Math Summit is going on in London Nov. 10th & 11th. Here are the links to two Twitter feeds #computermath and @mike_geogebra and to the conference website. Friends of CLIME: Maria Droujkova, Sol Lederman, David Wees and Gary Bitter will be presenting at the conference. They are recording it and it and archived sessions will be available in some form.

Math/Web 2.0 learning stations proposal to NCTM for Future Conferences

2011-11-01T13:45:00.001-04:00

Tom Petra (realworldmath.org) sharing Google Earth Ideas

Learning Station Poster session-ISTE 2011

Each year at the annual NCTM conference there is an affiliate group Delegate Assembly where delegates propose ideas in the form of resolutions to the Board of Directors for review and possible adoption. The last technology proposal was back in 2008 (see Board's response to the technology resolution is in... and it ain't pretty) which the Board pretty much dismissed. So it seems appropriate that since technology is NCTM's Focus of the Year that we try again particularly since CLIME is it's technology affiliate. So here we go.

Be it resolved that the Delegate Assembly recommends to the NCTM Board of Directors that they provide an area in the convention center that would model how current technologies are changing and empowering math education. This area would include:

• Free Wi-Fi access to those with laptops, iPads, and smartphones (which run faster with Wifi.) The cost for this limited location access could be shared among the corporate sponsors for the conference.
• Tables where conference goers can comfortably sit, connect with their own personal computers as well as with colleagues and new acquaintances.
• Learning Station Poster session(s) could be scaled appropriately and modeled similar to the ISTE learning station poster sessions described as "...All poster stations located in a public space and will include access to power, wireless Internet connectivity, and (optional due to expense) a large-screen monitor or projection device to connect to their own laptop. They will also include a counter-height presentation table. (See photo above.) This area can become the Math/Web 2.0 Space and replace the dated Cyber Cafe model.*

Rationale:
In 2008 the board responded to RESOLUTION O.NR.08.01, which recommended that the board increase the opportunities for participants to use technology in sessions at the Annual Meeting. The board offered one option that included a limited number of workshop and session rooms will be provided with Internet connectivity for the presenter. CLIME believes that this recommendation should be revisited and revised to reflect the current trends in technology. By offering an area where Wifi is available conference attendance can interact with selected poster session presenters (teachers) who would share how Web 2.0 tools combined with dynamic math software can significantly enhance mathematics education and model the unique blend of activities that occur in a 21st century classroom.

As a friend of CLIME please let me know what you think of this draft of the resolution and share any ideas you might want to add to it. The deadline for submitting this resolution is today, so I hope you will respond before the end of the day.

Thanks - Ihor

ihor@clime.org

*Note: NCTM has been hinting at a replacement by setting up independent computer kiosks at recent conferences for email checking/surfing for those without Wifi/Smartphone access.

NCTM Regional Meeting in Atlantic City - The Technology Strand

2011-10-18T14:00:00.014-04:00

This is the year (2011-2012) that NCTM celebrates technology at their regional and annual meetings. Since CLIME is exhibiting at the regional meeting in Atlantic City this week, I thought I would highlight the technology events at the conference.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

More about Greg

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Thursday is the day to follow the technology theme. Here's what you do.

1. Start your day with the morning Kick-Off session:

2. Choose from a variety of presentations throughout the day focused on Technology and Mathematics. See list.
3. Conclude with a Reflection session:

Learn <-> Reflect Strand: Reflection Session with discussion leaders Cheryl Giordano, Brian D. Rawlins and Christina Tondevold
Thursday, October 20, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

This culmination session of the Learn↔Reflect strand will facilitate a discussion of four reflection questions. Those who attend the Kickoff, at least one Learn↔Reflect session, and the Reflection session will earn a personalized certificate. The four questions are as follows:

What role does technology play in providing multiple representations and opportunities for communication to help students develop mathematical understanding?
How does technology influence your instructional decisions? And, how do your instructional decisions influence your use of technology?
How can technology increase access to significant mathematics to all students? How do you promote social justice for access to and facility with technology in learning mathematics?
How are you thinking differently about your use of technology as a result of participating in the Learn-Reflect strand? What are some of the steps you plan to take to promote growth in your own use of technology

Where to find Wifi?

You can check email and browse the Web at an internet kiosk near the registration area. But Wifi? We're looking into it. So far the word is that it is free everywhere. This I got to see. More about that when I arrive in AC.
Lost your program book?

You can access it online. (click on book's image.) See also how you can use the Conference app on your smartphone to help you find sessions. You can download it here.

Where to find CLIME (in person):

October 19-21, 2011 - NCTM Regional Conference in Atlantic City. CLIME will be exhibiting and promoting Math 2.0. Visit them at Booth #116.

CLIME in Exhibit Area-
Atlantic City

February 14, 2012 - AMTNJ Winter Conference, Somerset, NJ. Talk: Math 2.0 Teaching and Learning Maths with Dynamic Math Tools in a Web 2.0 World
April 25-27, 2012 - NCTM Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Presenting and exhibiting. Read more about it.
April, 2012 - CLIME sponsored online math & technology conference (tentatively planned) More details to follow.

Dear NCTM regional conference technology speaker

2011-09-28T16:33:00.004-04:00

As you probably know the theme for this year's NCTM conferences is Technology & Mathematics: Get Connected! The session description that you submitted for the NCTM regional conference in Atlantic City is now listed on NCTM's conference website including a PDF version of the final program book. If you are like me someone who likes to update their description and add relevant links before the conference to better inform and connect with conference attendees – you’re aware that it can't be done on the NCTM listing. For that reason CLIME (the Council for Technology in Math Education) an affiliate of NCTM puts together a website where you can! Go to the site technology-themed sessions and review your listing there. Then let me know by email if you want to change anything, share more info or add some reference links. I will make the changes for you immediately.

With the increased use of laptops and hand-held devices (i.e. smartphones) at NCTM conferences more attendees will be able to get the latest information before and during the conference to help them make better informed decisions as to which sessions to attend. I hope to see you at the conference.
Thanks - Ihor

Ihor Charischak
Council for Technology in Math Education - CLIME
NCTM affiliate group since 1988
Email: ihor@clime.org | Blog: http://climeconnections.blogspot.com | Twitter: @climeguy

More Atlantic City Information

2011-09-22T17:20:00.001-04:00

Just out. Program book for Atlantic City. Link below to get the PDF file.

Link for PDF

See NCTM conference flipbook for a preview of the conference.

Open Flipbook

Visit Clime at booth 116 in Atlantic City Convention Center.

See Exhibit hall dynamic map

Listing of all technology sessions at the Atlantic City Conference.

See previous blog entry for more about the technology strand.

CLIME 2011-2012 Moving Forward

2011-09-05T13:41:00.004-04:00

Hello,

CLIME is kicking off the 2011-2012 season.

Highlights:

Latest blog: "Yesterday I found out that I won a lottery that will cost me money" (I'll be speaking at the NCTM 2012 annual meeting.)

Invitation to participate in Conrad Wolfram's math summit in London in November

Sol Lederman writes: I'm helping to organize a summit in London in November to further the vision of Conrad Wolfram and his organization, computerbasedmath.org, which aims to recreate the math curriculum to have computers do the computing while kids do the thinking.

We would love to see people at the summit who have a strong commitment to math education reform, whether those people be in education, government, or the private sector. If you are aligned with Conrad's vision (more information below) and would like an invitation to the summit, please send me an email and I will send you an invitation.

Sincerely,

Sol Lederman for computerbasedmath.org

sol@wolfram.com

From the twitter feed

Keith Devlin will be speaking at the Momath event in NYC on Sept. 6th and 7th. I hope someone tapes him. Maybe I will.

Click to see Keith's recent tweets

Where is CLIME?

October 19-21, 2011 - NCTM Regional Conference in Atlantic City. CLIME will be exhibiting and promoting Math 2.0.
February 14, 2012 - AMTNJ Winter Conference, Somerset, NJ. Presentation.
April 25-27, 2012 - NCTM Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Presenting and exhibiting.
April, 2012 - CLIME sponsored online math & technology conference (tentatively planned)
More details to follow.

Friends of CLIME news

In case you missed Steve Rasmussen's (Key's Prez) 5min ignite presentation at NCTM11 here it is. -link

Key Curriculum Press new iPad based Sketchpad Explorer announced - link
Cisco, MIND Partner to Bring Math Program to Arizona Schools -link
Andrew Coulson who spoke at our 2005 CLIME BOF meeting is the president of Mind Institute. His twitter page.

Some CLIME nostalgia

References

I'm Looking Forward to the NCTM Conference in 2012 (or Maybe Not) - link

Yesterday I found out that I won a lottery that will cost me money

2011-09-02T10:24:00.006-04:00

Theme: Technology!

NCTM accepted my proposal to speak at the NCTM annual meeting in Philadelphia next April. That's the good news. The down side is that getting there, hotel and registration ($241 for speakers) will set me back some. But the important thing for me is that I won. I’ve been submitting proposals annually since 2004 after Johnny Lott - then president of NCTM - informed me that affiliate groups were no longer going to get automatic invites to present at annual meetings. I did put up an argument about that since I disagreed with the decision to make it a completely level playing field since I thought affiliate groups deserved a perk for all the hard work they do in promoting NCTM interests. One of the NCTM board members at the time told me that even the president of NCTM has to submit a proposal. (Of course, that was a bit disingenuous since they do invite people to give presentations.) At first glance that may seem to be a good idea, but after many years of observing presenters especially in the days pre-2007 when there were computer workshops I’ve been disappointed with what I’ve seen. I’ve brought up this issue many times with board members, presidents, etc. and they all had roughly the same response: “That’s just your opinion. From our experience the sessions have been well received.” I can’t argue with that. But since my bias leans heavily in the direction of meeting the needs of 21st century learners through the use of technology, I’m almost always disappointed with what NCTM provides at the annual meetings technology-wise (as you might have guessed if you’ve been reading my blogs on a regular basis.)

It’s not always been this way. Back in the mid 90s when the Internet was just warming up NCTM had technology strands and even technology "conferences within a conference” (CWaCs) organized by the Math Forum in 1998 & 1999 which included the trucking in of computers from local schools so that there would be computer labs available at the conference. In 1996 Daryl Sternom a member of the local arrangements committee at the annual meeting in San Diego brought in a trailer carrying computers with Internet access and parked it near the convention center. (Read his report and watch short video below taken in 2010 as reminisces about that event.)

Those were heady times when an individual or group had some freedom to explore areas of interest. That's much more difficult to do today since the conference is a such a tightly woven enterprise. (I tried to do something this year. See the email I sent to this year's program chair. It was ignored.) But with the advent of Web 2.0 and its potential to help teachers and students learn math in dynamic new ways, it may be a good time to think creatively and shake things up a bit. Since doing a CWaC focusing on technology is not possible any more within the context of the conference - the cost factor is considered prohibitive by every member of NCTM's inner circle that I've ever talked to - CLIME would like to organize an independent event either before of during the annual conference next year that would highlight the power of Web 2.0 to change the ways students and teachers learn and teach mathematics.

A couple of years ago Gary Stager – a long time friend of CLIME’s initiatives (see description of his 2002 talk at a CLIME session) did a marvelous pre-Educon 2009 event “Constructing Modern Math & Science Knowledge” event in Philly which I participated in. I’ve been trying to convince him to hold a math themed one next April that could be held the day before the annual NCTM meeting. But if that doesn’t work out, I would like CLIME to do an online event that would model the power of cloud-based technology in math education. Please let me know if you are interested in helping to plan such an event. It would be great to have it be an onsite event, but an online version would be also be useful. Let me know if you are interested in helping with and/or supporting such an event. (Send Email)

From the blogs

Karim Kai Ani of mathalicious.com writes about his frustration with being wait listed for the conference in his latest blog NCTM 2012: We Need Your Help! He asks for your help in getting him on the program. Unfortunately, the conference planners still devote a huge block of conference time to what I call “Desert Island Math*” which still plays a large role in what’s on the conference agenda so there is little time devoted to more promising talks that speak to the issues of what teachers need to know and do in this Web based world.

Also, if you are presenting on a technology theme at the NCTM meeting please let me know. Maybe together we can send a strong message to the NCTM decision makers than technology should no longer be a conference frill but something that is part of the infrastructure of NCTM conferences. (For example, Internet access throughout the conference.)

Other related CLIME blog entries

At the conference we can get by with a little help from our friends - link
Karim Kai Ani - Math 2.0 Live! Elluminate session - link
Board's response (2008) to the technology resolution is in... and it ain't pretty - link

*Math that can be done on a desert island (no batteries or electricity necessary or allowed.)

What makes math difficult? No(n)sense!

2011-08-17T11:27:00.000-04:00

Wrap your brain around this picture. Makes perfect sense doesn't it? I just checked the figures on my calculator and the total is right. So that means that the Gold Hill folks were pretty good at addition. But unfortunately making sense out of things wasn't one of their strong points.

This sign - well actually one similar to it - gave me an idea for what I did (or you can do) with a 6th grade math class. (Click here.)

* See #WCYDWT on twitter.

Taking CLIME on the Road: Next stop Atlantic City (in October)

2011-07-23T10:34:00.107-04:00

Clime will promote Math 2.0 in Atlantic City

CLIME will once again take advantage of NCTM's generosity* in order to share their vision of Math 2.0 with friends and colleagues at NCTM's regional conference in Atlantic City (NJ) this October at a booth in the exhibit hall. If you are planning to attend the Atlantic City conference and would like to help out or just spread the word about the vision we are promoting, let me know by email or sharing a comment below.
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Previous informative & influential posts:

In search of math 2.0
At the conference we can get by with a little help from our friends
Retweet "NCTM thoughts aka we don't even exist!" - Last year at the fall regional meetings this statement resonated for me: "If I had to choose one thing that stood out that I learned from NCTM it's that a ridiculous number of math teachers are completely unaware of the online math teacher community." I assume this year things will be better. But progress is slow.

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*They offer a big discount to it's affiliate groups who would like to set up a booth in the exhibit hall.

More Takeaways from ISTE conference

2011-07-04T16:30:00.003-04:00

Tom Petra sharing Google Earth ideas
(Poster session @ ISTE 2011)

My highlights
I've always been impressed with Google Earth as an amazing dynamic tool that lends itself to great math and science activities, but I haven't seen many examples that would be within the teacher's grasp to use. That's why it was a treat to discover Tom Petra's Real World Math activities which are the best I've seen so far.

From Tom's website:

Real World Math is a unique web resource for teachers that offers free math lessons and activities for grades 4-10. What makes these lessons so special is that they are presented on the virtual globe Google Earth. Real World Math contains downloads for over 30 interactive lessons, instructional tutorials, and other material that will let your students see Math in action. View our video below and explore the links on the side. Come and visit Real World Math!

Using Google Earth in the Math Classroom (10:38)

ISTE Conference Reflections - My presentation - video available!

2011-07-01T12:38:00.006-04:00

Click here for video of talk

In case you missed it, the title of my presentation at ISTE was Math 2.0: Scenes from the Dynamic Math Classroom. (My soon to be revised agenda page's link is here.) Besides promoting my vision of Math 2.0 and sharing some scenarios from potential dynamic classrooms, my personal goal for the session was to kick off my plan to write a "dynamic book" that is tentatively titled the same as my presentation "Math 2.0: Scenes from a Dynamic Classroom". It will include the five activities (stories) I mentioned in my talk:

Average traveler
Stock Market Game Jr.
Shopping Spree Adventures*
Measuring the Circumference of the Earth (In the spirit of Eratosthenes)
The Great Green Globs challenge

The first story I'm putting together is the Eratosthenes measurement activity/project which BTW is considered one of the greatest achievements of all time. (If you missed the video of Carl Sagan telling the Eratosthenes story before my session started you can see it at the Noon Day project** page here.)

I will be chronicling my adventures in writing this book in my other blog. If you would like to be informed when I've updated this blog, please let me know by sending me an email: ihor@clime.org Of course, you can always sign up for an RSS feed at my other blog.

Also if you would like to be on my emailing list please sign in at the agenda page for my session.

*See what Dan Meyer did at a grocery store that led to a great problem solving scenario. Link

**You can sign up your students for the Fall Noon Day project (not noted yet) starting on September 1st. Let me know if you are interested and I can help you with more details.

My European Trip's Math Highlight

2011-06-16T12:26:00.002-04:00

Benetton Store, Milan, Italy

I just got back from vacationing in Italy and Austria. While in a clothing store in Milan, I noticed the designation for what is on their three store levels. Maybe this is why some European countries do better in math than we do.

Speak at NCSM in April, 2012 in Philadelphia

2011-05-14T16:32:00.002-04:00

Terri Belcher, Executive director of NCSM, reminded me that people sometimes confuse the two conferences (NCTM and NCSM) so to help clarify the distinction:

The National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) is a mathematics leadership organization for educational leaders that provides professional learning opportunities necessary to support and sustain improved student achievement. It is also an affiliate group of NCTM.

Their conference is held every year at the same location and during the same week as the annual NCTM Conference. Next year it is in Phildelphia April 23-25, 2012. The NCTM meeting is from April 25-28, 2012. The speaker proposals for NCTM were closed as of May 1st, but it's not too late to apply to speak at the NCSM Conference. The call for 2012 Philly speakers closes June 3, so there is plenty of time to submit a proposal to speak and to encourage others to do the same. Link to proposal form.

Resources for NCSM
• NCSM - Link

• PRIME Leadership Framework - Link

• NCSM Newsletter - Link

• NCSM Journal - Link

Looking Forward to the NCTM Conference in 2012 (or Maybe Not)

2011-05-03T11:06:00.002-04:00

Enlargement of circled area

I was excited to learn that the next annual NCTM Meeting in Philadelphia would have a technology theme. Then I saw an advertisement for the 2012 conference. Technology theme? You have to look past NCTM's other priorities to see something referring to technology. Major disappointment. Though I am not surprised. The lack of response (so far) to my email to the program chair Gladis Kersaint (see below) doesn't surprise me either. Now I'm looking towards Denver 2013 for some technology breakthroughs. I heard Jeff Shih (the conference chair) might want to do something with technology that will make people take notice. I will find out.

(Links not clickable in the letter.)

The Showdown: Geogebra vs. Sketchpad

2011-04-20T11:14:00.004-04:00

Ihor & Scott debriefing
a session at NCTM 09

This is a comment I posted on the NCTM Conference Blog in response to a request that Scott Steketee from Key Curriculum posted there. It just cleared review and is now available. Here is an updated copy (without the typos) of what I wrote there:

Scott writes: "How can we best encourage reluctant teachers to use such tools and to use them most effectively in developing students’ reasoning and sense making? Any takers?"

I'll take a stab at it. Your question is is right on target. It's exactly the one that I have been thinking about during my many years of doing professional development with math teachers trying to help them use their technology in the best way they can to get after the vision you imply in your question. Sometimes the software tools the teachers are given and required to use are not always the ones I would recommend, but I do the best I can with them. Though at times it does feel like I’m trying to make lemonade out of lemons - which I’m not always successful at doing. Which brings me to Sketchpad vs. Geogebra.

Next month my wife and I are going on vacation to Italy. Our first stop is Venice where I’m looking forward to a delightful journey through the canals of Venice. The last time I enjoyed a canal boat ride was when I was in San Antonio, TX for a conference. How will the two experiences compare I wonder? It will be interesting to reflect on the differences and similarities. But would I give a talk titled: Canal Showdown: Venice vs. San Antonio? I think not. Both have their charms and I will remember the experiences I had there and what I learned. I think the same thing is true with Sketchpad and Geogebra. Both have their strengths and limitations. Is Sketchpad "better" than Geogebra? Is Venice “better” than St. Antonio? It really doesn’t matter. Either one can be used very effectively in achieving Scott's vision. It all depends on the context in which it is used. Personally, I love Sketchpad and always have. Do I have some problems with it? Of course. On the other hand, I know several math teachers who I respect who love Geogebra and use it effectively with their students. And I think that is great.

I was pleased with Jeffrey Hall's presentation (though I would have preferred a different title.) It was an honest attempt on his part to compare the ways the programs were similar & different and he did a good job. He was helped by Scott who was in the audience helping to give a fuller understanding of the various fine points in how Sketchpad worked.

I admired this collaboration between Scott (and other members of the audience) and Jeffrey to help the attendees better understand the two programs so that they can make better informed decisions about which program to use in their schools so that their students get to experience the kind of mathematical thinking and exploration that dynamic geometric software makes possible.

-Ihor

NCTM Conference - April 15 - Day 3

2011-04-15T18:03:00.008-04:00

Ihor Charischak & Keith Devlin

My highlight of the day is connecting with Keith Devlin. He's my newest hero and hope for the future of math education. His Apollo program for math is to create a web-based simulation platform for cool learning objects that motivate students to "wanna do" math by engaging them in mathematical thinking. His session Video Games for Mathematics Education: They Will Soon Get Better was on Friday and he stopped by the CLIME booth for a photo op with me. I was thrilled. If you missed his talk you can still catch an archived presentation that he hosted on Math 2.0 Live last Monday.
For updates on Keith's project follow this blog via RSS feed and/or Twitter (@climeguy)