new graphing app

while I was attending the technollogy conference,I talked with someonewho shared a new graphing app called Desmos.  it is bothan online graphing calcultor and an app for the iPad.  this product differs from most graphing apps in that you do not have to rewrite the equations into y=something  aand it graphs inequalitiez. this is nice so my students can check their work and it means students who areweak inrewritting equationz can still finish the assignment.  As soon as I get back to work, I will have this app installed on the iPads.  I have two or three apps to add.

Real World Math

I am thinking of spending some time this summer and creating units for my math classes.  Units that include some real world mathematics such as some real biology population studies and the mathematics,  or which interest equations (compounded or continuous) are used for savings accounts, loans, house buying,  car buying, etc.  I want these units to give students a chance to see how one type of equation works in a few different situations.  Furthermore, I can set up some of the exercises so they use spread sheets, graphing calculators and maybe putting things together at the end of the unit with a presentation, a project or maybe an infographic.  If I work on these units over the summer, I should be able to integrate the technology in such a way as to increase understanding but not just have technology.

Minecraft

I think I mentioned that I went to a Minecraft session a couple days ago.  It only works on computers at the moment but it could be used in a math classroom.  It can be rather addicting.  I started playing the tutorial and when they froze it after 20 min so they could give us information, I just about jumped out of my chair to strangle them because I was really into it.  During the session, I came out with the question of how is it used in Math.  The representative for the game gave me a link to a page with lesson plans.  Most of these lesson plans seem to be for the age group of 7 to 12 but if I make it an after school activity, I could adjust a few things for my students. 
The biggest thing I see about Minecraft is that it teaches perseverance, problem solving, and planning.  This costs a bit but its not a huge amount.
While looking up things about Minecraft, I discovered there is something called Qcraft which teaches quantum mechanics and is free.  It works in the Minecraft world.  Once the school has Minecraft, I want to download Qcraft so that I can play with it.

another view of mathematical tasks.

I took the class on mathematical tasks and learned a few more things.  In addition to ones like you have dogs and chickens.  There is a total of 40 heads and 96 feet.  How many dogs are there?  This one is actually on the internet.  I know because the reading teacher who helps out wanted to try it and found it on the internet.  I am glad to know this because one of my students found it on the internet and copied everything down word for word.  I would have known by the language in the explanation, even if I had not known it was on the internet.  I think if I use this again, I will change the animals so they won't find it on the internet.
The presenter also offered some short tasks that can be given during class and shouldn't take more than 5 mins.  You have a 3 x 5 card and three dice.  You fold the 3 by 5 card in half like a hamburger bun.  You line the three dice up so that all the 7 exposed surfaces add up to 23.  This can take some time and it helps develop both problem solving skills and mathematical vocabulary when you write up how you came up with the answer. 
Some of the places recommended for having good tasks like these include:
School improvement network
Inside Mathematics
NCTM
Illustrative Mathematics
NCSM
NRich.
I plan to check each of these sites out for tasks.

Neat website and app

I went to a talk on aviation and the classroom and got quite a few neat links but found one that is awesome.  Its called Lineup with Math Simulator which is an Air Traffic Controller simulation and it uses Math. It is put out by NASA Ames research center.  What is really neat is there is a free app called Area 33.
The web based version has 2 to 5 airplane problems.  One that we saw, showed 3 planes who all had to go past the same check point and were traveling at the same speed.  You decide how to change the speed and learn to read the "screen" so they all arrive safely.  It is awesome as it gives you a real life situation for practicing math.
The app is called Sector 33 has 4 levels of certification and 35 programs featuring 2 to 5 planes.  I've downloaded it and plan to play it a bit later.  The web based game was awesome so I'm hoping the sector 33 game is a neat.

Correction and website with lots of

I explored mangahigh.com earlier today and it turns out the only game I tested works on iPads.  The rest need adobe flash.  I thought I had finally found a place that had games that worked on the iPad.  I should have explored it in more detail but I was at training and tried the one game so I assumed that they all would work.  Rats.  I apologize for this.
On the other hand, I just wondered through hippocampus.org.  The have quite a few videos to instruct, show examples, etc.  In addition to mathematics, it offers various sciences, social sciences and English.  This website would be good for a blended classroom and would allow students to get additional help with their

Someone followed my example

Yesterday, after school, the wing had a meeting and I shared how I had my students find the answer to which odds were better: winning the lottery or having quintuplets?  The video teacher is leaving instructions for the kids to research a certain program they will have to use.  He told me, he was inspired by my story and decided to leave this assignment because he was going to head off for the same technology in eduction that I'm going to be at.   I think that is cool.
Over the next couple days or so I want to investigate free video apps that will allow my students to make videos or video podcasts for an assignment. I realize there are the apple apps such as imovie, etc but I want to check out free apps because the school is on a very tight budget.I did download garage band when it was free so I have that but I want to check possibilities out.
Once I get the video making apps on the iPads, I am going to try to have students make a commercial on an aspect of math such as the perpendicular bisector.  the commercial will be no longer than 30 seconds which will make sure the material is there and they have to come to the point.  I can hardly wait.