Simone Jablonski – Page 6

Article on MathCityMap in Stuttgart’s Newpaper

Already in the last week, we reported on the opening of the MATHE.ENTDECKER trails around Stuttgart’s stock exchange. We are happy that the event was also reported in the Stuttgarter Zeitung at the 20.04.2018 and would like to share this article with you: High school students on the math path School students use a smartphone […]

Already in the last week, we reported on the opening of the MATHE.ENTDECKER trails around Stuttgart’s stock exchange. We are happy that the event was also reported in the Stuttgarter Zeitung at the 20.04.2018 and would like to share this article with you:

High school students on the math path

School students use a smartphone and corresponding app to solve practical tasks. Uli Meyer

Many people are wrong being confronted with the question of how big a person would be with a head the size of the sculpture of the thinker. Five meters? Or six? 24 students of Johann Philipp Palm School cannot rely on their feeling or a vague estimate. They have to calculate an exact result. The 11th graders of the Schorndorfer Wirtschaftsgymnasium start with measuring tape and calculator and begin their mathematical calculations. Incidentally, the human would be just over ten meters tall, which the students calculate with help of the app. Managing Director of Stuttgart’s stock exchange, Oliver Hans, and Matthias Ludwig and Simone Jablonski from the Goethe University Frankfurt watch the happenings, because the aspiring high school students are the first to complete the so-called math discovery trail. Around the stock exchange, Ludwig and Jablonski and their staff of the Institute for Didactics of Mathematics and Computer Science have created four such trails. They vary in difficulty and challenge different ages, like the steel wheel and 14 other tricky tasks. “The Math Trail idea is already old and was developed in 1984 in Australia. Our new approach is that we combine it with an app for smartphones, “says Ludwig about the new offer for schools, but also for the very private, individual use.

Together with Stiftung Rechnen, where Stuttgart’s stock exchange is a founding member, Ludwig’s institute has developed the MathCityMap platform. This website is translated in eleven languages, because it has become an international project with partners in several countries. “Worldwide, we have 600 trails with around 3000 individual tasks in the system,” says Ludwig. One encounters it “through creativity and through the world with eyes open”. A circumstance that is also important to Oliver Hans: “Mathematics surrounds us permanently in our daily lives.” Stiftung Rechen would like to interest people in mathematics, to reduce fear of contact and to convey joy in dealing with numbers. “Arithmetic is a cultural technique as well as reading”, Hans and Ludwig agree. Not all students were enthusiastic when they completed Stuttgart’s first math discovery trail. But for many, this practical application of mathematical tasks seems more interesting than a math lesson. Their teacher, Thomas Blum, watches his students with a smile on their faces as they study the steel wheel: “They must work out principles as to how they can come to a solution.” The learning effect is as great as the fun.

MathCityMap can be downloaded for free in App Stores.

Task of the Week: Sculpture “Thinker”

After we opened the first MATHE.ENTDECKER (math explorer) trails at Stuttgart’s stock exchange at the 12th of April (read more here), we want to present you one of the included tasks. The object is the sculpture “Thinker”, a prominent symbol of Stuttgart. Task: Sculpture “Thinker” (Task number: 2018) Determine the height of a person with […]

After we opened the first MATHE.ENTDECKER (math explorer) trails at Stuttgart’s stock exchange at the 12th of April (read more here), we want to present you one of the included tasks. The object is the sculpture “Thinker”, a prominent symbol of Stuttgart.

Task: Sculpture “Thinker” (Task number: 2018)

Determine the height of a person with this head size. Give the result in meters.

An interesting question with forces the creativity of the students as the propotion of head size and body size might be unclear. The students can determine this proportion at their own bodies, at best with all group members and the mean. Afterwards, the head size of the sculpture is measured and related to former values. A previous estimation in comparison to the real height might be surprising.

MoMaTrE project in Portugal

The MathCityMap team thanks our MoMaTrE partners from Portugal for a special outdoor event with MCM. Read their impressions in the following article by Amélia Caldeira and Ana Moura: In the center of Matosinhos, a city in Porto’s metropolitan area, in Portugal, the mathematics was breathed with the event “Matemática vai ao Jardim” (Math goes […]

The MathCityMap team thanks our MoMaTrE partners from Portugal for a special outdoor event with MCM. Read their impressions in the following article by Amélia Caldeira and Ana Moura:

In the center of Matosinhos, a city in Porto’s metropolitan area, in Portugal, the mathematics was breathed with the event “Matemática vai ao Jardim” (Math goes to the Garden) on March 23rd. This event aims to celebrate mathematics and its relevance in everyday life, and in the progress of society. The main idea of this celebration was to use the students’ mathematical skills in the real world.

In a fun and innovative way, 170 students from Augusto Gomes Secondary School, equipped with a smartphone and the MathCityMap app (MCM app), answered several mathematical challenges, having as a backdrop the Garden Basílio Teles, in Matosinhos, and all its surroundings.

It was a competition between teams of three or four students. All of them benefited from an outdoor activity: they left the school building, walked around and explorde the center of Matosinhos.

Using their mathematical knowledge, they solved the proposed tasks. All the tasks were in accordance with the knowledge level in which the team was in. Three math trails, with five tasks each, were designed: a route for 7th and 8th grade students, a route for 9th grade students, and another route for students from the 10th to the 12th grades.

Through the MCM app, students went on an outdoor walk along a route and solved math problems that were contextualized with the surrounding environment. The students passed through special places in Matosinhos, where math can be experienced in everyday situations. For example, a swing to calculate angles measures, lake bridge to calculate areas, garden benches to apply combinatorial calculus,…

The map with the location of the fifteen tasks is showed in figure 1:

Fig.1 – location of the fifteen tasks

In the end, the best team was selected from each of the three routes. The criteria for choosing the best team was the highest number of correct answers. In case of equality, the team that answered in the minimum time.

Both students and teachers of Augusto Gomes enjoyed the event “Matemática vai ao Jardim”.

Fig.2 – students measure the circumference of a sphere

You can find a briefly video-report here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr9XwMFfUnc&feature=youtu.be).

ISEP/P.Porto team who designed and invigorated the event:

Amélia Caldeira, Ana Moura, Ana Júlia Viamonte, Isabel Figueiredo, Helena Brás, Alexandra Gavina and Alzira Faria.

Trails around Stuttgart’s Exchange

MATHE.ENDTECKER (Math Explorer) is a program funded by Stiftung Rechnen in cooperation with Goethe University. MathCityMap gives the technical, didactical and pedagogic basis for this special program. Through the opening of these trails at Stuttgart’s exchange through Patrick Dewayne (Ambassador of Stiftung Rechnen), Dr. Oliver Hans (head of Stuttgart’s exchange) and Prof. Dr. Matthias Ludwig […]

MATHE.ENDTECKER (Math Explorer) is a program funded by Stiftung Rechnen in cooperation with Goethe University. MathCityMap gives the technical, didactical and pedagogic basis for this special program.

Through the opening of these trails at Stuttgart’s exchange through Patrick Dewayne (Ambassador of Stiftung Rechnen), Dr. Oliver Hans (head of Stuttgart’s exchange) and Prof. Dr. Matthias Ludwig (Goethe University, working group MATIS I), MCM reached a new level in terms of dissemination and cooperation with Stiftung Rechnen and further partners.

Dr. Oliver Hans, Prof. Dr. Matthias Ludwig, Patrick Dewayne, (c) Philipp Tonn

On Thursday, 12.04., students from 11. grade of a commericial high school in Schorndorf were able to test one of the four trails. The feedback was positive, especially the connection of being outside, acting independently, doing mathematics and using mobile devices was mentioned. It is planned to created further trails in Schorndorf with help of MathCityMap.

Students of Johann-Philipp-Palm school in Schorndorf

The MCM team from Frankfurt is looking forward for further tasks.

Ceremonial cutting off the tape in front of the sculpture “thinker” close to Stuttgart’s exchange. From left to right:Patrick Dewayne, Prof. Dr. Matthias Ludwig, Oliver Hans. Students of Johann-Philipp-Palm school Schorndorf.

Task of the Week: Scale of the Krämerbrücke

We all know them: city and site maps, illustrations and drawings that depict a real object to scale. Especially at sights, they offer the chance to calculate this scale, as in our Task of the Week at the Krämerbrücke in Erfurt. Task: Scale of the Krämerbrücke (Task number: 3108) Determine the scale 1: x in […]

We all know them: city and site maps, illustrations and drawings that depict a real object to scale. Especially at sights, they offer the chance to calculate this scale, as in our Task of the Week at the Krämerbrücke in Erfurt.

Task: Scale of the Krämerbrücke (Task number: 3108)

Determine the scale 1: x in which the Krämerbrücke is drawn (engraved) on this steel plate. Give the number x.

First, it has to be clarified how the scale is defined: One unit of length corresponds to x units of length in reality. In this example, the real length of the Krämerbrücke is indicated on the plate, so it is only necessary to measure their length on the plate and to compare the two values. Of course, the task can also be formulated on objects where the actual size or length has to be measured.

By the way: Do you already know the new metadata function “About this object”? This allows you to enter interesting sidefacts about sights and objects, so that cultural-historical references can be realized.

Generic Tasks: Height of Buildings

Today we would like to introduce you to our generic tasks concerning the height of buildings. This topic offers the opportunity to do math for different grades. The height of buildings can already be determined with grade 5 students if regularities and patterns are identified: https://mathcitymap.eu/en/portal-en/?show=task&id=2045 These may e.g. be bricks, glass panes or plates, […]

Today we would like to introduce you to our generic tasks concerning the height of buildings. This topic offers the opportunity to do math for different grades.

The height of buildings can already be determined with grade 5 students if regularities and patterns are identified: https://mathcitymap.eu/en/portal-en/?show=task&id=2045

These may e.g. be bricks, glass panes or plates, of which one or more can be measured to determine the total height by means of the total number.

Such a question thus trains the mathematical view on regularities and patterns in the environment.

The difficulty of the task increases as soon as the building has no regularities. The height can then be determined with the help of the intercept theorems.

https://mathcitymap.eu/en/portal-en/?show=task&id=3171

There are various possible solutions for this, for example using the sun’s position in suitable weather conditions, using smaller objects (such as lanterns) or using the folding rule. In this case, it is particularly helpful to make a preliminary sketch of the situation in order to facilitate the application of the intercept theorems.

Important in both cases is a marking in the task or image, which makes it clear to what point the height should be determined, for example, if you want to ignore a front building.

The document Height of Buildings contains our detailed description of both types of tasks.

MCM Web Portal Update

You might have already noticed that the MCM website has recently changed. In this article, we want to inform you about the most important changes. Overview: Responsive layout New MCM Twitter account New languages New wizard tasks (GPS, escalator speed) Changed workflow for trails and tasks Mathematical symbols Tasks: […]

You might have already noticed that the MCM website has recently changed. In this article, we want to inform you about the most important changes.

Overview:

Responsive layout
New MCM Twitter account
New languages
New wizard tasks (GPS, escalator speed)
Changed workflow for trails and tasks
Mathematical symbols
Tasks: New function “About the object”
Switch to web technology “AngularJS”

Layout

The most obvious are the layout and design changes. The MCM surface has received a new design, both in the portal and on the website. As part of the changes, we included the new logo, updated the slider images, and implemented a responsive layout, which makes the website useable on mobile devices. In the box of the right sidebar, the languages Italian and Greek were recently added. In addition, there is a MCM Twitter channel where we inform you about current events such as training courses, our European MoMaTrE project or topics related to Mathtrails. We are looking forward to welcome you as our followers. Our tweets can be found in the box “Social Media”.

Changed Workflow in the Portal

We are currently working at full speed to rebuild the portal to a modern framework in order to develop the project faster in the future, and in order to be able to better maintain it. In spite of extensive testing, bugs may occur in this process, so please let us know if you notice something. Trails and tasks have been restructured with the latest updates. The individual boxes are now divided into sections. Tasks have received a new box. It is called “About the Object” and provides space for information that is not directly related to the Mathtrail task. In the app, the entered data are displayed below the actual task so that interested users can find out more about the object (e.g. historical or cultural information).

Another change concerns the processing of already existing tasks and trails. Prior to the update, each field had to be changed by clicking on the “edit pen” and then saving it. This has now been changed through two different views of a task or a trail. When the details are opened, you can view the task and its data as well as possible actions (e.g. publishing or sharing for a group). Through clicking on the “Edit” button on top, you can edit all boxes directly and then save them.

A few months ago, we added a table of math symbols to the tasks. When you click in a text box, an “omega” icon appears next to the text box. If you focus the symbol with the mouse, the table appears. Clicking on the desired symbol inserts it into the text field.

What’s next?

The most exciting extension we are currently working on is the so-called “pedagogical trails”. These should allow the teacher (with the approval of the students) to follow the progress of the students. In addition, push messages will be introduced to help groups in the solution process and to better organize and control the process of the mathtrail. The following points are also still on the to-do list:

Subtasks
Profile pages for users
Statistics on the use of trails and tasks

Task of the Week: Minerva Fountain

Today’s Task of the Week will be presented in an interview with Virginia Alberti, who uses and supports MathCityMap in Italy. We say thank you for the interview and the numerous Italian tasks! Task: Capacità per la fontana della Minerva – Capacity of the Minerva fountain (Task number: 2452) How many liters fit into the […]

Today’s Task of the Week will be presented in an interview with Virginia Alberti, who uses and supports MathCityMap in Italy. We say thank you for the interview and the numerous Italian tasks!

Task: Capacità per la fontana della Minerva – Capacity of the Minerva fountain (Task number: 2452)

How many liters fit into the Minerva fountain?

This task concerns the calculation of the capacity of a fountain tub placed in a square of my city center. To answer the question of the activity, the students have to model the fountain basin and calculate the volume.

At a first sight, the calculation could be trivial, but in reality, it requires observation, analysis and skill in the choice of the model to be applied with certain conditions and approximations related to:

the particularity of the shape of the tub (2 cone trunks),
the presence of a base in the center that supports the statue,
the choices on measurement methods not taken for granted.

I have thought, designed, and created this task to propose it in a collaborative learning mode for a small group, and I identified myself with the actions that my students could use their knowledge to estimate the capacity.

I found it intriguing that in the group the students could:

talk about math for creating the model,
activate and compare the skills for solving a real problem,
choose a shared solution strategy with different measurement opportunities,
make conjectures and then have different ways to verify them without finding ideas in the network.

I think MathCityMap is a tool that allows:

supporting the pursuit of mathematical and digital skills as well,
facilitating a conscious and educational use of mobile devices and recovering some skills and practices of use that millenials mature in informal learning,
supporting what is defined as laboratory teaching,
facilitating an active role of the student by stimulating creativity in the approach to the resolution strategy with respect to the questions of the task,
opening up the possibility of other methods of teaching approach such as the flipped lesson or PBL.

Furthermore, I think MathCityMap for teachers is:

a challenge to innovation towards an educational proposal that facilitates the social and collaborative learning of mathematics;
a reactivation of a new project towards those that are the learning requests of the 21st century (I am thinking of the STEM field);
an activation to a role of less transmissive teacher, but more as tutor, from facilitator, …

MCM in Munich

As part of the 109. MNU Bundeskongress, we were able to use and present MCM in the Bavarian capital city. Iwan Gurjanow and Simone Jablonski presented the MathCityMap idea in a workshop, which asked the teachers to test and create MCM tasks. The trail around TU Munich-Garching can be found here. In Munich’s city center […]

As part of the 109. MNU Bundeskongress, we were able to use and present MCM in the Bavarian capital city.

Iwan Gurjanow and Simone Jablonski presented the MathCityMap idea in a workshop, which asked the teachers to test and create MCM tasks. The trail around TU Munich-Garching can be found here.

In Munich’s city center numerous tasks could be created as well. Through a wide range of historical buildings and interesting objects, we can create a trail that involves a variety of tasks. It will be available in our portal soon.

Special thanks to the organisators and the participants for their active cooperation and constructive talks. We are sure that the MCM team will come back to Munich!

MCM International Events

Through the cooperation project MoMaTrE (Mobile Math Trails in Europe – www.momatre.eu), MathCityMap could be presented on an international level in various ways. On 23.03., about 170 students at the age of 12-18 years took part in the activity “Mathematics goes to the Garden” which was organized by the MoMaTrE partners in Portugal and involved […]

Through the cooperation project MoMaTrE (Mobile Math Trails in Europe – www.momatre.eu), MathCityMap could be presented on an international level in various ways.

On 23.03., about 170 students at the age of 12-18 years took part in the activity “Mathematics goes to the Garden” which was organized by the MoMaTrE partners in Portugal and involved diverse MathCityMap tasks.

Special thanks to Amélia Caldeira for the photo, which shows a group while measuring. Further impressions can be found on our Twitter Account (@mathcitymap).

Also in Lyon, France, MathCityMap could be presented successfully at the beginning of the week as part of the congress Math en Jeans. Here a special thanks to Christian Mercat. The involved trail, which can be seen in the picture, can be found here.