Having just completed my masters degree in math, a not so passive thirst for continuing to review, refresh and explore mathematical ideas persists. I don’t think I will ever pursue further formal training in math, so books like this one will suffice. I don’t remember my first encounter with the number e, but since having taught … [Read more…]
It’s difficult to know when I finished my Masters program – when turned in my final assignment (April 16)? when my final assignment was marked (April 24)? when my final credits were posted to my transcripts (April 30)? when graduation happened (June 15)? when I got my degree in the mail (July 6)? Regardless – … [Read more…]
Because the sine of angles between 0º and 180º is cyclical, in some occasions when calculating an angle of a non-right triangle using the sine law it is possible to produce two different solutions. The title of the grade 11 trigonometry lesson, “The Ambiguous Case of the Sine Law,” has always struck me as the possible title of a … [Read more…]
I teach math. I’m known as a hard teacher (my quizzes & tests aren’t easy). I expect my students to practice math daily. I expect them to ask questions when things aren’t clear. I expect them to engage the material and that the grades will follow as a result of authentically learning. I encourage them not … [Read more…]
Big changes in Zaakistan. After 7 years at Bearspaw Christian School I have left to teach at Calgary Christian School. At the same time, 15 years after graduating with my bachelors degrees, I am entering graduate school through a distance learning program through the University of Waterloo. Calgary Christian School offers many benefits over BCS. It belongs … [Read more…]
The K-12 Integer Sequences Conference was organized by my good friend Dr. Gordon Hamilton (Dr. Pickle) of MathPickle.com and Dr. Neil J. A. Sloane, the founder of the On-line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS). I was fortunate enough to attend as a math educator among other educators, math professors, and curriculum developers. The goal of the conference … [Read more…]
3.1415.. = π 3.14.15 = today
In January, my grade 12 math students wrote their diploma exam, a provincial requirement and a university placement helper. They did superbly! I have to brag a little since I had a class of 24 with wide ranging skills and because of a schoolwide scheduling change 15% less instructional time to deliver the course than … [Read more…]
January Sick Day. Snow Day. Gaming weekend in Canmore. Concerts: Living with Lions, Whitehorse. Semester 1 ends: Math 10C, Math 20-2, Multi-Media February Dragonfly Cohousing Social Media Blitz. Man Scouts Beer Tasting. Demitor Visit in Edmonton. Peter turned 80 in High River. Semester 2 begins: Calculus, Math 30-2, Multi-Media. March Mother-in-law visit. Turned 37. Fundraising … [Read more…]
In November, I attended a math conference with another 24 people at the Banff International Research Station for a weekend. The conference was organized by my friend Dr. Gordon Hamilton of MathPickle.com fame (visit his site for more info on the conference). It was meant to discuss and identify 13 unsolvable math problems that could … [Read more…]