Darren KuropatwaDept. Head Mathematics

Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute

Sargent Park School

November 7, 2008Numeracy Across the Curriculum or ...

I read the news today. Oh boy!

Why should we care about mathematics?

Why should we care about mathematics?

job skills, needs of science and technology

Why should we care about mathematics?

job skills, needs of science and technology

essential understanding to be a responsible citizen

play

Why should we care about mathematics?

job skills, needs of science and technology

essential understanding to be a responsible citizen

transcendence

curiosity

beauty

and

The Mock Turtle went on. “We had the best of educations . . . Reeling and Writhing, of

Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision

course, to begin with, and then the different branches of Arithmetic—Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.”

“I never heard of Uglification,” Alice ventured to say. “What is it?”

The Gryphon lifted up both its paws in surprise. “Never heard of uglifying!” it exclaimed. “You know what to beautify is, I suppose?”

“Yes,” said Alice, doubtfully: it means—to—make—anything—prettier.”

“Well, then,” the Gryphon went on, “if you don't know what to uglify is, you are a simpleton.”

Why should we care about mathematics?

play

Why should we care about mathematics?

job skills, needs of science and technology

essential understanding to be a responsible citizen

transcendence

curiosity

beauty

and

play

Why should we care about mathematics?

essential understanding to be a responsible citizen

transcendence

curiosity

beauty

and

1866-1946

"Statistical thinking will one day be as necessary for efficient citizenship as the ability to read and write."

Why should we care about mathematics?

Why should we care about mathematics?

Did you know that there are three kinds of statisticians — those that can count and those that can't.

Why should we care about mathematics?

50% of marriages end in divorce. Thus if you don't file for divorce, your wife will.

transcendence?

Why should we care about mathematics?

curiosity?

beauty?

play?

Why should we care about mathematics?

Garrett Lisi: A beautiful new theory of everything

Why should we care about mathematics?E8

248 dimensions

has

Discovered

between

1888

and

1890

Why should we care about mathematics?

Look at some of Chris Jordan’s work ...

is it beauty, play, transcendence, or is he just

Running the Numbers ...

2.3 million folded prison uniforms =

number of Americans incarcerated in 2005

Depicts one hundred million toothpicks, equal to the number of trees cut in the U.S. yearly to make the paper for junk mail.

Depicts 32,000 Barbies, equal to the number of elective breast augmentation surgeries performed monthly in the US in 2006.

Partial zoom

Detail at actual print size

Depicts 106,000 aluminum cans, the number used in the US every thirty seconds.

Partial zoom

Detail at actual print size

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

5 misconceptions about math

(1) mathematics = computation

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

5 misconceptions about math

(1) mathematics = computation

pattern recognition

a little magic ...

Year were you born

a little magic ...

a little magic ...

Year of a significant event in your life

a little magic ...

Your age

a little magic ...

Years that have passed since the significant event

Year were you born

a little magic ...

Years that have passed since the significant event

Your age

Year of a significant event in your life

Year were you born

a little magic ...

Years that have passed since the significant event

Your age

Year of a significant event in your life

++

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

5 misconceptions about math

(2) it’s strictly hierarchical

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

5 misconceptions about math

(2) it’s strictly hierarchical learning is networked

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

5 misconceptions about math

(3) no place for storytelling

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

5 misconceptions about math

contextualizes learning

(3) no place for storytelling

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

5 misconceptions about math

(4) exclusivity: few people can understand math

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

5 misconceptions about math

(4) exclusivity: few people can understand math

accessible to everyone

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

(5) it’s a numbing discipline, lacking lustre or beauty

Why don’t students do better in mathematics?

(5) it’s a numbing discipline, lacking lustre or beauty

literacy?

Clarence Fisher, Globally Literate K12 Online Conference

Literacy is always changing ... with your location

geographically and in time. All definitions have

consistently had three components:

(1) Literacy = Comprehension

(2) Literacy = Production

(3) Literacy = Interactive

http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=50

Literacy: (noun) the

ability to read and write.

literacy: skills involved in using information to accomplish goals

David WarlickRedefining Literacy for the 21st Century

“If all your kids learn to do is read and write,

Is All Information Knowledge?

they won't be literate.”

Types of literacy

• text literacy (what's text?)

• information literacy

• technological literacy

• media literacy

• internet literacy (hypertext, validity of sources, reading links, site ownership)

• visual literacy (Photographs, cartoons, line drawings, diagrams, concept maps, ...)

• mathematical literacy

• and more ...

Types of literacy

Literacy

The ability to encode and decode information

The Language of Mathematics

Cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy. It dn'seot mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.

Source: http://www.snopes.com/language/apocryph/cambridge.asp

The Language of Mathematics

Miittluvraae asilyans sattes an idtenossiy ctuoonr epilsle is the itternoiecsn of a panle pleralal to the xl-yapne and the sruacfe of a btiiarave nmarol dbttiisruein.

The Language of Mathematics

Miittluvraae asilyans sattes an idtenossiy ctuoonr epilsle is the itternoiecsn of a panle pleralal to the xl-yapne and the sruacfe of a btiiarave nmarol dbttiisruein.

Multivariate analysis states an isodensity contour ellipse is the intersection of a plane parallel to the xy-plane and the surface of a bivariate normal distribution.

Is numeracy a problem?

Does numeracy matter?

1997

Does Numeracy matter?

• Unemployment/low employment tied to poor numeracy rather than literacy

• poor numeracy + poor literacy = manual occupations.

• followed closely, not [by those] with poor literacy + competent numeracy, but [by those] with competent literacy + poor numeracy

• People without numeracy skills suffered worse disadvantage in employment than those with poor literacy skills alone. (--> school, jobs)

• One feature of the modern labour market is the relentless decline in unskilled and partly skilled occupations. Our case studies showed that people with poor

numeracy were in exactly these kinds of jobs.

Source: (Basic Skills Agency, UK 1997)

International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey

2003

Bermuda

Italy

Norway

Switzerland

United States

International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey

2003

Bermuda

Italy

Norway

Switzerland

United States

79.48% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Surgeon General’s Warning:

International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey

• literacy and numeracy skills contribute to individuals’ economic and social well-being.

• 48% of adult Canadians aged 16 and over– perform below Level 3 on the literacy scales

• 55% of adult Canadians aged 16 and over– perform below Level 3 on the numeracy scales

• little change in Canadian literacy performance between 1994 and 2003. • Proficiency of Canadians, aged 16 to 65, in literacy, numeracy and problem

solving is clearly [positively] linked to their labour market outcomes.

• the evidence suggests that health issues and literacy issues intersect. • The hidden problem

Source: (Statistics Canada, 2003)

International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey

• literacy and numeracy skills contribute to individuals’ economic and social well-being.

• 48% of adult Canadians aged 16 and over– perform below Level 3 on the literacy scales

• 55% of adult Canadians aged 16 and over– perform below Level 3 on the numeracy scales

• little change in Canadian literacy performance between 1994 and 2003. • Proficiency of Canadians, aged 16 to 65, in literacy, numeracy and problem

solving is clearly [positively] linked to their labour market outcomes.

• the evidence suggests that health issues and literacy issues intersect. • The hidden problem

Source: (Statistics Canada, 2003)

i luv math

Two visions of learning

The Classic View and The Official Theory

learning is:• continual• effortless

• inconspicuous• boundless

• unpremeditated• independent of rewards

and punishment• based on self-image

• vicarious• never forgotten

• inhibited by testing• a social activity

• growth

learning is:• occasional• hard work• obvious• limited

• intentional• depends on rewards

and punishment• based on effort• individualistic

• easily forgotten• assured by testing

• an intellectual activity• memorization

I’m Matheus.

hi

We learn from the company

we keep

hi

What am I learning keeping this company?

What am I learning keeping this company?

What am I learning keeping this company?

What am I learning keeping this company?

What am I learning keeping this company?

What am I learning keeping this company?

What am I learning here?

Coffee anyone?

Ahhh …

Is numeracy a problem?

Is innumeracy a problem?

Gee Dubbya: Just how many are there in a Brazilian?

Kathy Cassidy’s Class

A Dollar A Second …

A Dollar A Second …

!

1000000sec

60sec=16666.66min

A Dollar A Second …

!

1000000sec

60sec=16666.66min

!

16666.66min

60min= 277.77hrs

A Dollar A Second …

!

1000000sec

60sec=16666.66min

!

16666.66min

60min= 277.77hrs

!

277.77hrs

24hrs=11.57days

A Dollar A Second …

!

1000000sec

60sec=16666.66min

!

16666.66min

60min= 277.77hrs

!

277.77hrs

24hrs=11.57days

!

1000000000sec

60sec=16666666.66min

A Dollar A Second …

!

1000000sec

60sec=16666.66min

!

16666.66min

60min= 277.77hrs

!

277.77hrs

24hrs=11.57days

!

1000000000sec

60sec=16666666.66min

!

16666666.66min

60min= 277777.77hrs

A Dollar A Second …

!

1000000sec

60sec=16666.66min

!

16666.66min

60min= 277.77hrs

!

277.77hrs

24hrs=11.57days

!

1000000000sec

60sec=16666666.66min

!

16666666.66min

60min= 277777.77hrs

!

277777.77hrs

24hrs=11574.07days

A Dollar A Second …

!

1000000sec

60sec=16666.66min

!

16666.66min

60min= 277.77hrs

!

277.77hrs

24hrs=11.57days

!

1000000000sec

60sec=16666666.66min

!

16666666.66min

60min= 277777.77hrs

!

277777.77hrs

24hrs=11574.07days

!

11574.07days

365days= 31.71years

The Mega Penny Project

Gambling bites into family funds

The Herald Sun, Saturday, February 3, 1996, p.5

VICTORIANS are using housekeeping money to finance an $89 million a week gambling habit …

Beware the pushy fish-eaterMEN who eat a lot of fish are driven by ambition and the desire for success, British researchers claim.

Seven in 10 men who frequently eat canned tuna. sardines, salmon, mackerel or kippers admit to being ambitious, andone in two rate themselves as more successful than others.

The study, commissioned by John West Foods, reveals they are also thin-skinned types, with only 5 per cent of regular fish-eaters saying they coped well with criticism compared with a quarter of the non-fish eaters.

Source: The Mercury, 7 May, 1991.

Source: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/resdocs/

How is numeracy addressed in theBC Grades 8 to 12 mathematics curriculum?

An unusual incident …

LotteriesDefinition: a self imposed tax on

the innumerate.

Literacy in Math Class

Your Take Away Wiki

http://numeracy.wikispaces.com

thanks

Photo Credits015: Estrangedhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/wcouch/2199404769/

OEDhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanloar/196903781/

MINDHUNTERShttp://www.flickr.com/photos/darknetportal/1204775147/

snowed inhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/broterham/106790226/

H. G. Wellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:H_G_Wells_pre_1922.jpg

wellsberkley380http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlevar/2725958615/

i love mathshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/ariffjrs/1133398577/

Fill in the blankhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/cdm/51747860/

HELLS ANGELS 69http://www.flickr.com/photos/darknetportal/882839048/

Dundu Dole - Urban African Ballethttp://www.flickr.com/photos/marjorie/534451789/

IKBLC Group Study1http://www.flickr.com/photos/ubclibrary/2701350667/

Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestrahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nadworks/420309711/

final examhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/dcjohn/74907741/

Flat Stanley's meeting with Brazilian Soccerhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/14514351/

Natural Fractal Mosaichttp://www.flickr.com/photos/dkuropatwa/2912488625/

Running the Numbers by chris jordanhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jjheiselman/2200566670/

And be true, what to dohttp://www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/2120674286/

Microsoft Company Picnic Division Champs!http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendyn/30762480/

E8_graphhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jjheiselman/2200566670/

One Of These Buttons Will Get Me Out Of Herehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/431036565/

Photo Credits (continued ...)watching and waiting (365.339)http://www.flickr.com/photos/splityarn/3003081525/

And be true, what to dohttp://www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/2120674286/

Empty coffee cuphttp://flickr.com/photos/urbanmkr/354843867/

portrait 8http://www.flickr.com/photos/minivanmafia/188108984/

Hm...http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexmuse/248817067/

«?», Robert Stadler!s question markhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/ogil/1507585665/

Chris learning to drivehttp://flickr.com/photos/willismonroe/129132936/

Max: Learning how to drivehttp://flickr.com/photos/moz/6682734/

Ginger Learns to drive a Deerehttp://flickr.com/photos/donkeylady/134536173/

Canadian 1 Dollar Billshttp://flickr.com/photos/dmuth/1315588078/

one pennyhttp://flickr.com/photos/aderowbotham/55733411/

Fish heads, fish heads, lovely, tasty fish headhttp://flickr.com/photos/raincitystudios/154277314/

Video Credits

Math Infomercialhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t629YHtPDo8

Mathhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du4idjyMyng

probability 0.0000001 %http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2L-25xncbo

Square one Billion is bighttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOYf_1I4VBQ

mathhttp://flickr.com/photos/akash_k/125489887/

Hierarchical church leadershiphttp://flickr.com/photos/theabbott/870309562/

Rapt with the storytellerhttp://flickr.com/photos/heandfi/2479240973/

Lattetude Coffeehttp://flickr.com/photos/umairmohsin/304109861/

Odd man outhttp://flickr.com/photos/lisanorwood/1046416640

Bluehttp://flickr.com/photos/lisanorwood/1045562729

Magichttp://flickr.com/photos/bohman/174718774/