Tag Archives: Algebra and Functions

Polar Graphing

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Scott Steketee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6rBrby7aic&w=640&h=456]

After writing yesterday’s post on the connections between polar and Cartesian graphs, I realized that I hadn’t said anything about how easy it is to start from scratch and create a polar graph in Sketchpad, so I decided to write … Continue reading →

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Cartesian and Polar Graphs

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Scott Steketee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqvksICv99E&w=640&h=360]

The May 2013 Mathematics Teacher has an excellent article by Jonathan F. Lawes (“Graphing Polar Curves”) on the value of plotting the same function in both polar and rectangular coordinates. Doing so not only helps students understand how polar coordinates … Continue reading →

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Exponential Harmony with Sketchpad

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Scott Steketee

Last week was the fourth session of my spring Advanced Secondary Math Methods class at the University of Pennsylvania. Each year I assign a semester project in which groups of three students use lesson-study techniques—on a small scale—to create, test, … Continue reading →

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Understanding Proportional Relationships with the Proximity Data Game

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Rick Gaston

In the Fall as Middle School and Algebra 1 teachers look for activities to develop students’ understandings of proportional relationships, they may turn to measuring scale diagrams or using springs. One of KCP Technologies’ new online Data Games called Proximity … Continue reading →

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“Figuring It Out” Is Where the Learning Happens

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Karen Greenhaus

I often get asked the question when doing webinars, workshops, or professional development training, “is there a quick way to do that” with Sketchpad, TinkerPlots or Fathom? For example, last week we had a webinar on functions, and the question … Continue reading →

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How Low Can You Go?

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Elizabeth DeCarli

I heard a great radio interview on NPR this week with Tim Storms, who holds the Guinness Book of Records for the lowest note sung by a human. He sang a few low notes for the interview—so low that my … Continue reading →

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ICME: The Nature of Students’ Mathematical Thinking

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Scott Steketee

Like other enthusiasts of mathematics, I’m captivated by the way that mathematical ideas can explain things in the physical world around me, and by the way that I can carry out mathematical thought experiments in my mind and then apply … Continue reading →

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Functions Come Alive in a Precalculus Classroom

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Josephine Noah

Ken Gordon has written our first in a series of guest blog posts from people working with Key Curriculum products in schools. Ken teaches Precalculus and Calculus in an accelerated program at Sisler High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has … Continue reading →

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Preparing Tomorrow’s Data Scientists Through Data Games

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Rick Gaston

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Big Data’s Problem: Little Talent,” the technology industry faces a major dearth of employees with strong data analysis skills. The article quotes a 2011 study by McKinsey: A significant constraint on realizing … Continue reading →

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The Big Bad Math

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Ian Rosenfield

“What do you like about working here?” I asked during my interview to work at KCP Tech. I was rather struck by Vishakha’s response that she liked being able to help people learn math. She thought that it was completely … Continue reading →

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