Testimonials:``I got a good review of Calculus, a great view of the Common Core Standards, and a nice overview of some discrete topics. Most of all, I got to know some terrific math teachers and learn some of the great things they do in their classrooms.''``I've definitely refreshed my memory on calculus topics and learning new things from groups and cryptology. On a side note, I would definitely recommend ND PRIME to others, especially middle school teachers. It has been really beneficial to me and I'm sure it's beneficial to others, too.'' ``Great modeling of how a classroom can provide opportunities to explore and learn in a group setting. I hope to implement many of the strategies used in this course.'' |
2012In 2012, we focused our efforts on the areas of Calculus and Algebra & Number Theory. We had a fantastic group of math teachers in 2012. They were motivated, inquisitive, hard-working and just plain fun to be around. We got into some pretty deep mathematical discussions while also sharing ideas, concerns, tips, and teaching methods. This summer, our second, confirmed that this workshop is a fantastic opportunity for North Dakota math teachers, and the benefits are seen throughout the school year in their classrooms. Below is a description of the areas we explored in this workshop. Calculus is the math that describes change in time and space. The foundations of Calculus were pioneered by the work of Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, and is ubiquitous in the fields of engineering, chemistry, physics, and applied mathematics. As a course, Calculus is taught at the high school level, usually as an A.P. course for college-bound seniors. However, its ideas span concepts at the heart of all of the STEM disciplines, and a thorough understanding of how things around us change will help any secondary-level math teacher or student. We intended to make this part of the workshop accessible and relevant to all secondary-level math teachers, including those that do not teach Calculus (or haven't seen it in decades). Algebra is the study of variables, equations, relations, functions and how they act on various mathematical objects, such as the integers, real numbers, or matrices. The main focus at the secondary level is solving polynomial equations, examining their graphs, and discussing real-world applications of these ideas. When talking about algebra, one naturally becomes involved with number theory. Prime factorizations and the division algorithm relate to ideas in more abstract realms of algebra. The true beauty of algebra, as a whole, is realized when all of these seemingly scattered and unrelated ideas come together. We aimed to make this course new and interesting, using what is normally taught in middle school and high school and twisting it to make connections that may not be seen before (or even during) college. Below are some pictures from our 2012 workshop: |
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