STEAM & Problem Based Learning in Mathematics

Shelby Aaberg, Scottsbluff High SchoolNAG Annual Conference

February 21, 2014

Email: saaberg@sbps.netBlog: http://mathleticism.net

Twitter: @ShelbyAaberg

Agenda1:10 – 1:15 Do Now1:15 – 1:17 Objectives1:17 – 1:25 Resources1:25 – 1:32 Classroom Culture1:32 - 1:48 MTPS Examples1:48 – 1:54 101 Questions1:54 Closure

Do Now

• Imagine you are a student in a music class.

• Turn to a colleague close by.

• Summarize in two or three sentences what you would hope to learn in the music class.

• Lockhart’s Lament

Objectives

• Discuss how to establish a culture of cooperation & process in math class.

• Craft our own definition of low threshold, high ceiling tasks by comparing examples.

• Practice the process of formulating questions.

Top 3 Resources for Elementary School Students

http://www.beastacademy.com/

http://www.alice.org/index.php

http://www.mathlearningcenter.org/bridges/grade

Top 4 Resources for Middle School Students

http://mathcounts.org/ http://www.geogebra.org

http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Edutainment/ftwcs3/index.php FOR THE WIN

http://www.estimation180.com/

Top 3 Resources for High School Students

http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/liz/Alcumus/index.php

http://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-1012

http://www.101qs.com/101 Questions

Classroom Culture:Flawed Beliefs About Math

• The learning sequence in math is linear.

• The rate of learning math is linear.

• Since math is sequential, if topic C depends on A and B, we cannot possibly address C until we address A and B first.

Transferring Mathematical Authority Always Never “We” “I”“AN answer” “THE answer”

Students won’t be paid to solve problems with answers in the back of a book.We must prepare our students for jobs that do not yet exist.

One can never bench 300 lbs. by only lifting 100 lbs. Problems prove their worth by hitting back!

MTPS ExamplesClassroom Seating Problem

Oil Storage Tank Problem

Mailbox Problem

Broken Pipe Problem

What could music class look like in 10 years? 20 years? 30 years?

Recap & Closure

• Discuss how to establish a culture of cooperation & process in math class.

• Craft our own definition of low threshold, high ceiling tasks by comparing examples.

• Practice the process of formulating questions.

THANK YOU“Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individualsAbove the crowd: a little bit more.

They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.”- A. Louis Vickery