Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh

Informational Newsletter
Volume 96, Number 3
http://info.ckp.edu/newsletter/v96n3.html

Using the World Wide Web in Mathematics Classes

Mathematics educators are beginning to use the World Wide Web as a source for problem sets, assessments, lesson plans, software, curriculum and collaboration. This newsletter will highlight a number of mathematics, WWW curriculum projects that PPS teachers and students are using.

  • MathMagic - http://forum.swarthmore.edu/mathmagic/ is a K-12 telecommunications project developed in El Paso, Texas. It provides strong motivation for students to use computer technology while increasing problem-solving strategies and communications skills. MathMagic posts challenges in each of four categories (k-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12) to trigger each registered team to pair up with another team on the net and to engage in a problem-solving dialog. When a problem solution has been reached, it is posted.

  • Problem of the Week - gopher://gopher.pps.pgh.pa.us:70/11/net/math/prob is a set of non-routine problems put online by a teacher in the PPS. They are for all levels (elementary, middle, high school, and general) and difficulties. The problems are meant to develop an online dialogue between students and teachers pertaining to problem solutions. Solutions are not put online, but are "negotiated" between students and the online teacher.

  • The Superbowl of Problem Solving - http://oberon.pps.pgh.pa.us/~tang/sbowl/sbowlhome.html is a contest challenging teams of six to eight high school students in physics, engineering, and mathematical problems. The teams compete in seven events, ranging from the Collapsing Bridge, Mystery Event, Kickoff, and other problems that change yearly. Some of the events require the teams to build something before the day of the Superbowl. This page was created by students at Carrick High School in Pittsburgh to disseminate information about the competition.

  • The TI-xx Calculator Homepage - http://oberon.pps.pgh.pa.us/~tang/calculator/calchome.html was created by a PPS student - Jason Tang - for the purpose of sharing graphic calculator programs. This is an example of how students can use the WWW to publish valuable information that they develop and want to share with a larger audience.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Question: Where do I find mathematics resources on the WWW?

    Answer: Although you can use general search mechanisms for locating resources, the following list of mathematics resources are a great place to start.

  • NCTM Curriculum and Evaluation Standards - http://www.enc.org/cd/NCTM/280dtoc1.html
  • Eisenhower Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education - http://enc.org/
  • Newsgroups - news:k12.ed.math
  • Careers in Mathematics - http://www.ams.org/careers/
  • Internet Center for Math Problems - http://sashimi.wwa.com/math/mathCenter.html
  • Journal for Research in Mathematics Education - http://www.indiana.edu/~jrme/
  • The World of Escher - http://www.texas.net/escher/
  • American Mathematics Society - http://www.ams.org
  • Mathematics Archives - http://archives.math.utk.edu/
  • Biographies of Great Mathematicians - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/index.html
  • The Math Forum - http://forum.swarthmore.edu/
  • Steve's Math Collection @ The Geometry Forum - http://forum.swarthmore.edu/~steve/
  • The Geometry Center - http://www.geom.umn.edu/
  • The Shell Center for Mathematics Education - http://acorn.educ.nottingham.ac.uk/ShellCent/welcome.html
  • PUMP Algebra Program - http://sands.psy.cmu.edu/ACT/awpt/pump-home.html
  • Mathematics Association of America - http://www.maa.org
  • Annenberg/CPB K-12 Math and Science Project - http://www.learner.org/k12/
  • Appetizers and Lessons for Math and Reason - http://www.cam.org/~aselby/lesson.html

    Obtaining Help

    Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh maintains a number of email addresses that provide users with online help. If you have an account on the system and would like to obtain answers to common questions, send email to:

    resources@pps.pgh.pa.us (curricular assistance)

    trouble@pps.pgh.pa.us (technical assistance, Macslip and PCslip help)

    info@ckp.edu (information pertaining to Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh)

    If you are a PPS employee and would like an Internet account, call us at 622-5930.


    Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh
    501 Fortieth Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15224
    (412) 622-5930; Fax (412) 622-5935

    Assessment Staff
    Ann Davidson adavidso@pps.pgh.pa.us
    Janet Schofield schof@vms.cis.pitt.edu
    Janet Stocks stocks@pps.pgh.pa.us

    CK:P - Pittsburgh Public Schools Staff
    Barry Check check@pps.pgh.pa.us
    Priscilla Franklin franklin@pps.pgh.pa.us
    Joseph Kern kern@pps.pgh.pa.us
    Richard Wertheimer wertheim@pps.pgh.pa.us
    Mario Zinga zinga@pps.pgh.pa.us

    CK:P - Pittsburgh Supercomputing Staff
    Peter Berger peterb@psc.edu
    Eugene Hastings hastings@psc.edu
    Gwendolyn Huntoon huntoon@psc.edu
    Kevin Sullivan ksulliva@psc.edu

    Project Director
    Robert Carlitz rdc@ckp.edu

    Common Knowledge: Pittsburgh is a research project funded by the National Science Foundation to explore the educational utility of wide area networks for the national K12 community.