Professional development for STEM Educators

The Joy of the Math Project

Jen-chung Chuan

National Tsing Hua University

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Aug, 2010

Introduction

√ How Intel ISEF 2010 has brought joy to the little countryside home and brought hope to the disaster area

√ How math project has brought joy to math learning and research

Math Becomes Experimental

• Mathematics is regarded as a branch of theoretical science.

• Science project turns Mathematics into an experimental science.

Visual

• Pure mathematicians speak of the thrill of abstraction.

• Math project takes pride in making abstract concept visible and dynamic.

Don’t Spoil the Fun

• Three parts of a theorem: – “Given” – “To prove” – “Proof”

• Thousands of years: “Proof” the most precious.

• Dynamic Geometry : “To Prove” the most exciting.

Attention Span

• It is easy to deliver a math lecture making the audience sleep.

• When a mathematical proof is turned into an interactive game, people get addicted.

PowerPoint?

• PowerPoint makes interactive Q&A hard.

• Webpage links the minds to an unknown depth.

Principle of Duality

• Treat a constant as a variable• Treat a variable as a constant

Old Wine…

• Conventional Wisdom: Don’t discover a theorem unless it has at least three applications.

• Math Project: Don’t start a mathematical experiment unless there are at least three different ways to do so with the computer.

Symbols

• Appropriate math symbols make presentation clean.

• Redundant symbols make presentation ugly.

Index

• Avoid using indices.

• Verbal expression reflects a sharper mind.

Mathematical Maturity

• Mathematical maturity - best propaganda for any math project.

• References speak such quality loud and clear.

Ego

• A mathematician’s ego is found in the scratchpad.

• He is willing to fight to keep it confidential.

• Art of a science project : transform it beyond recognition.

Efficiency

• Amount of time for presentation- limited • The quality of judging is gauged

by the efficiency of the presentation.

• Ambiguity: worst sin • Just imagine the amount of time saved

without having to clarify definitions!

White Board• Tools for scientific presentation - far from

ideal. • In math seminars chalk is used. • Pace and Flow of Ideas can hardly be

simulated with computer.

•Bring a white board.

Magic Show

• People love magic shows.

• Extract the mathmagic ingredient of the project and start seducing the audience.

Insight

• Mathematical methods?• Meaningful in higher math?• Physical significance?• Visualized? • Simulation with a computer? • Accessible to high school student?• Accessible to primary school student?

Reality Check

• Have you given your presentation to your parents?

• Do they understand it?

Another Reality Check

• What have you learnt from the project?

Thank You

Math Rocks