WELCOME TO A SMART PROJECT!
The following project is currently under progress by Rhode Island teachers. Although in some activities, the teachers have borrowed and adapted ideas from other teachers and current programs and sources on the Internet, the work is their own. The activities are displayed here in their original form , unedited as they have submitted them. In most cases, these are ongoing projects. The names, school districts, and email addresses of the authors are included. Please feel free to contact the authors with any suggestions, comments, or even participation.Teaching and learning are cooperative efforts.
EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS
Overview:
The history of mathematics is an aspect of the subject that is often overlooked in the high school classroom. It is important that students have some understanding of the evolution of mathematics as well as the people and cultures contributing to it. Since women and minorities often feel that they cannot do math, it seems necessary to make them aware of the contributions of other people of their own gender/culture. The purpose of this activity is going to be to use telecommunications to do some research into the history of mathematics, and to use that research to put the subject into a perspective that might be relevant to the high school student.
Objectives: As a result of this activity the students will:
- Learn how to use the Internet to collect data.
- Discuss the information gathered and make observations.
- Write a report .
- Develop a timeline.
- Become more aware of the contributions of different cultures.
- Learn to work in cooperative groups.
Resources/Materials: - a computer with a modem and access to the Internet
- a list of addresses for quick access
- word processing software
- assorted materials with which to complete a timeline.
Activities and Procedures:
- Students should be given the names of several people to identify; this can be done on an overhead. Included in these names should be some of people who are easily recognized as well as some of mathematicians who are not common knowledge. Students should then be asked how they can find out more about these people.
- Divide the class into small groups, and ask each group to find information on these people.
- Introduce the students to the Internet and give them an opportunity to get online with a practice session.
- Have each group use the Internet to collect information on 6 different mathematicians. They are to be from different periods of time, from different cultures, at least one must be a woman, and one has to have made a significant contribution to geometry. To avoid duplication, the students need to provide a list of the individuals they are investigating.
- Each group will then briefly describe the interesting information that they found and any problems they encountered in their research. Discuss the cultures that were not represented and why this might have happened.
- Using a word processor program, each student will complete and submit a short paper which includes a biography of each person researched and reactions to the research. This should include what was learned in doing this exercise.
- The entire group will share their research to complete a timeline of the mathematicians. They can decide on the form this will take, but each mathematician should be represented by an appropriate symbol.
Extensions:
- A paper could be published using all the information gathered and distributed to other math classes.
- As part of a school-wide celebration of Math month in April, the biography of a "mystery" mathematician could be posted for a designated period of time. Students could be asked to e-mail their responses to a designated teacher with the first correct response receiving a prize.
- The students could be asked to interview professionals in other disciplines that use mathematics. This could be done through an online discussion group, or by e-mail, if addresses are available. This will give the students an opportunity to see the relevance of mathematics to everyday life. It will also offer a connection to their investigations of the past.
Internet addresses to be used:
AUTHORS:
Swanson, Joyce M. JSBYVWAC@uriacc.uri.edu St. Mary Academy Bay View - Riverside, Rhode Island algebra, geometry grades 9 - 11