Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics, Geometry, Math Software

Estimating Angle Measurement

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Angles are a thorny concept to teach because of the fundamentally different ways in which they can be used and understood. In the article What's Your Angle on Angles?, the authors divide the concept of angle into three main groups: angle-as-figure, angle-as-wedge, and angle-as-turn. In the Web Sketchpad game below, we focus on angle-as-turn. Given an angle, students enter an estimate … Continue Reading ››
Advanced Mathematics, Educational Technology, Math Software

A Mathematical Mystery Story with Web Sketchpad

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Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about the value that students derive from writing mathematics with Sketchpad. The post included an example of a simple Logo iteration, easily implemented in Sketchpad, that produces some very complex and interesting shapes depending on the values of several input parameters. In the article* where … Continue Reading ››
Math Software

A Merciless But Addictive Addition Game

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How challenging can single-digit addition be? That's the question I asked myself when my friend Hung suggested that I download Chisla, a mobile game for iOS and Android. From its description alone, the game seemed suitable for young learners practicing their addition. Take a look at the image below. The game presents you with an array of 25 random digits. … Continue Reading ››
Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics, Math Software

An Equivalent Fractions Game

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In my recent posts, I've introduced interactive models for comparing fractions and multiplying fractions. To continue the fraction theme, below is a Web Sketchpad model in which the need for equivalent fractions arises naturally through the rules of a game. The model displays two arrays. Dragging the four points changes the arrays' dimensions. The goal is to drag blue squares into the blue array … Continue Reading ››
Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics, Math Software

A Compendium of Elementary Web Sketchpad Activities

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Below is a complete list of all the interactive elementary-themed activities we've offered on our Sine of the Times blog. Most of these activities grew out of the work that we did during our NSF-funded Dynamic Number project. The list includes links to our original blog posts as well as links that take you directly … Continue Reading ››
Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics, Math Software

Comparing and Identifying Fractions Visually

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In my previous post, I presented an interactive Web Sketchpad model for visualizing and solving fraction multiplication problems. This week, I'd like to back up a step and focus on the more fundamental skill of visualizing and reasoning about the size of fractions. The fraction game below (and here) presents two random fractions at a time and … Continue Reading ››
Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics, Math Software

Understanding Fraction Multiplication

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Last week, Scott and I attended a fraction symposium at NYU, and it made me realize how long it's been since I've written about our Sketchpad work with fractions. Below is a Web Sketchpad model for displaying and solving fraction multiplication problems. Representing fraction multiplication with an area model is a common approach, but it's challenging to sort … Continue Reading ››
Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics, Geometry, Math Software

Exploring Tessellations with Web Sketchpad

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Metamorphosis is a New York-based company that offers professional content coaching to transform the mindset and practice of both teachers and administrators. I recently had the pleasure to collaborate with Metamorphosis staff members Toni Cameron and Kara Levin as well as mathematics coach Ariel Dlugasch from P.S. 276 in a coaching learning community that … Continue Reading ››
Educational Technology, Geometric Functions, Math Software

Connecting Functions in Geometry and Algebra

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News alert! Scott and I wrote the cover story, Connecting Functions in Geometry and Algebra, in this month's Mathematics Teacher. You can read the article in print, but better yet, go to the free online version. This is the first time Mathematics Teacher has incorporated live dynamic-mathematics figures into its online offerings, allowing readers to manipulate the mathematical … Continue Reading ››
Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics, Math Software

A Coordinate Plane Logic Puzzle

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For the past few years, Scott Steketee and I have collaborated with the author team of Everyday Mathematics to integrate Web Sketchpad deeply into their curriculum. As part of that work, I just completed a websketch that nicely mixes practice with logical reasoning. Students are challenged to find a hidden treasure on the coordinate … Continue Reading ››

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