ExeterMath2011


 * Anja S. Greer Conference on Secondary School Mathematics, Science, and Technology**
 * June 24th - July 1, 2011**
 * Phillips Exeter Academy; Exeter, NH**
 * Jean Duty, Laura Morin**

What is the Conference Like?
This is a great conference. If you have never attended this conference, you should think about coming. Not only is it a great learning experience, but it is a great networking experience as well. There are attendees and leaders from around the world in attendance, and talking to others about what they do in their classrooms is a learning experience in itself.

Every participant takes two week long courses that meet two hours per day. The course topics include Math History, The Exeter Method, teaching through problem solving, using technology in the math classroom and more. There are over 30 courses you can choose from. In addition, there are 45 minute sessions that you can attend daily after your longer courses. These are great too. They include all sorts of topics.

What did we Learn?

 * About the Exeter Method for teaching Mathematics. Student textbooks consist of problems only. Each student is assigned 8 to 10 problems per night and the next day the solutions to these problems are discussed. The teachers serve as guides, but do not "give" students the solutions. The students must solve problems on their own.
 * About the history of Algebra, and the persons who contributed to this history as well as the mathematics as it was done.
 * About a variety of games and puzzles that can be introduced in the classroom to help students become better problem-solvers including Kakuro, Ken-Ken, Sudoku, Blokus, Set, and Goblet. Many of these are available online.
 * About a variety of really good problems that can be solved using a variety of methods and can be provided to different levels of students (i.e. an Algebra 2 student versus a Calculus student).
 * About GeoCaching (or modern day scavenger hunts using GPS and Math Trails- using photos and videos to teach mathematics.
 * About the use of math in industrial robotics.
 * About using Complex Numbers to prove trigonometric identities.
 * About Using GSP to solve max/min problems and incorporating color and sound into GSP
 * About the TI-Nspire CAS (computer assisted system) graphing calculator. With this calculator, the student and teacher have the ability to solve equations, inequalities, graph, collect data (it can be attached to vernier probes), etc.

What will we use in our RE classes?

 * Present problems that enable students to construct their own knowledge, and allow students to solve problems on their own. Silence is OK! Resist the urge to jump in and solve problems for students.
 * Weave some of the history of Algebra into our classes as well as begin thinking about designing a mathematics course that presents a global history of mathematics.
 * Use puzzles and games in the classroom and as part of the "Problem of the Day."
 * Use some of the great problems presented at the conference like the ratio of areas problem, the painted cube, etc.
 * Develop and refine current activities and projects to include more use of geometer's sketchpad
 * Develop lessons that get students to make more connections between various mathematical concepts (algebra & geometry, geometry & trigonometry, etc.) and get them to think more deeply about the mathematics.

Important Links, Resources, or Contacts:
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 * [|www.mathaware.org]
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