Tag Archives: curriculum
Golden Ratio
I can’t believe I’ve taught math for almost six years and not done much with the golden ratio, phi (φ) ≈ 1.6180339887, and the associated Fibonacci sequence 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,… (add the previous two numbers to get the next number, so 8+13=21 c0mes … Continue reading
Filed under math
November in Geometry
Although this is my sixth year teaching, I’ve been struggling with classroom management issues this fall in my last-period Geometry class. So we haven’t been able to do some of the cool projects I talked about last year (click the Geometry … Continue reading
November in CIM
Within the past month (stretching back a bit into October), we’ve been working on two major projects: CNC Programming and Mill Use To complete this project, students first designed their initials (out of straight lines and arcs), plotted points’ coordinates, … Continue reading
Filed under engineering, teaching
Trip to BGE
Yesterday we took a tour of Baltimore Gas & Electric‘s Spring Gardens facility in South Baltimore. We heard about the environmental protection efforts BGE has been implementing at that site. We learned about the history of BGE, back almost 200 … Continue reading
Filed under engineering, teaching
Trigonometry with Algebra 2
Since this May may be my last month teaching math (for a while? forever? I doubt my departure from math will be permanent … more on the story behind this later), I thought I’d get into the swing of things … Continue reading
Principles of Engineering Skills
So I’m thinking of giving a skills list a try in my Principles of Engineering (POE) course this semester too. It wouldn’t be full-on standards-based grading (SBG), since in such a project-driven class I need projects and reports to be … Continue reading
Filed under engineering, teaching
Algebra 2 / Trig Skills
Hi! I’m looking for some feedback on what skills I should use in my standards-based grading Algebra 2 with Trigonometry (A2T) course spring semester. I just threw together the following list as a rough draft, and do expect to edit … Continue reading
The Pythagorean Theorem
Possibly the most famous theorem in all of mathematics. Over 300 distinct proofs of this theorem exist, including one discovered in 1876 by future president James Garfield. [Unfortunately, his mathematical prowess did not protect him from the assassin's bullet.] I … Continue reading
Brainstorming an Integrated Unit: Projectile Motion
As we go through our Year of Planning to become an Academy of Engineering, we are working on plans to try out an integrated unit. An integrated unit is where students are learning about a common topic across all their … Continue reading
Filed under engineering, math, teaching
Mathematical Proof
Proof is one of the most important concepts in mathematics. Proof separates math, where statements must be rigorously proven using deductive reasoning, from science, where statements of accepted truth are induced from observation of repeated trials. This is part of what … Continue reading
