[NAEP] I may not read them all ...

[Dawn Wiseman]

... but I do read a lot of them. It's mid-summer 
and I haven't been keeping up with the flow of 
information into my inbox. Here are a few items 
that caught my eye as I tidy up.

Dawn

---------

From the Scout Report

MathDL: Digital Classroom Resources
http://mathdl.maa.org/mathDL/3/
With an increased focus on the importance of 
teaching mathematics throughout the education 
system in the United States, the discovery of 
this fine online collection of resources is most 
welcome. Developed by the Mathematical 
Association of America (with substantial support 
from the National Science Foundation), the site 
contains hundreds of classroom materials that 
have been extensively tested and reviewed by 
peers in the field. On the site's homepage 
visitors can look through some of their "Featured 
Items", which range from interactive linear 
algebra exercises to open source components that 
can be added to course websites. Visitors who 
know what they are looking for should use the 
search engine to move through the materials by 
subject or category. Additionally, users can also 
submit their own mathematical teaching tools to 
the site's editor for consideration.

National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html
To some, the idea of using the case method to 
teach science may seem a bit like a novelty. This 
pedagogical method is quite common in the fields 
of law and medicine, and in recent years, it has 
been gaining a foothold in some of the sciences. 
Fortunately for those interested in learning more 
about this method of instruction, there is the 
National Center for Case Study Teaching in 
Science, based at the University of Buffalo. Over 
the past fifteen years, they have been working on 
using this method in large and small classes, and 
they have developed a number of helpful resources 
along the way. Visitors can look over the case 
study collection, which is divided into topical 
areas, such as anthropology, astronomy, food 
science, and nutrition. Interested parties may 
also wish to take a look at their upcoming 
conferences and workshops. Overall, this is a 
most valuable resource, and one that science 
educators will want to revisit several times.

Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures 
[Macromedia Flash Player, iTunes, Real Player]
http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/
As Alan Lomax recorded the sounds of hundreds of 
different indigenous musical traditions 
throughout his sixty-year career as a 
musicologist, the legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau 
did similar work throughout the world's oceans. 
Following in his footsteps, his son, Jean-Michel 
Cousteau continues to inform and delight with his 
own series of programs on public television. On 
this site, visitors can learn more about the work 
of Cousteau and his colleagues as they examine 
the lives of sharks, gray whales, and the unique 
underwater ecosystems off the coastline of the 
continental United States. For each of these 
episodes, visitors can view clips of each 
program, learn about the goals of each 
expedition, download podcasts, and read a 
glossary of terms. Of course, there are also some 
fun items here as well, including free ringtones, 
interactive games, and screen savers

Success in Mathematics
http://euler.slu.edu/Dept/SuccessinMath.html
Many students arriving at college may find that 
they have forgotten some of the basic skills 
required to learn various mathematical concepts. 
Some educational researchers and mathematicians 
of note have commented that learning math is more 
than a bit like learning a new language. Keeping 
that in mind, this site provided by the 
mathematics department at St. Louis University 
may be useful for both students and educators 
alike. The site provides information on "Š. how 
to study mathematics, how to approach 
problem-solvingŠ. and when and how to get help." 
The material here is contained within subsections 
that address such matters as "Active Study vs. 
Passive Study" and "Solving a Problem". In all 
honesty, students cannot go wrong with such a 
nuts and bolts approach to mathematics, and this 
site's effective message will ring true with 
educators.

From the Internet Tourbus

A History Lesson
The history of computing and the story of how the Internet came to
be are fascinating subjects to me. But it's too big a story to tell
here, so I've pulled together some excellent links that you can use
to explore it at your leisure.

The HISTORY OF COMPUTING PROJECT offers a timeline of major events in
the history of computers, biographies of computer pioneers, and even
a history of video games.
http://www.thocp.net

From the Math Forum

Mathematics Webpages by Cathleen V. Sanders
http://mathforum.org/~sanders/

Pages written by Cathleen V. Sanders -- formerly 
available through the Punahou School website in 
Hawaii up until her retirement earlier this year 
-- are now hosted by the Math Forum.

The Geometry Pages
     http://mathforum.org/~sanders/geometry/
     The Geometry Pages are designed to intrigue 
and inspire you to learn more about geometry and 
its many applications in art, engineering, 
science, and much more!
     
Journey to the Center of a Triangle
     http://mathforum.org/~sanders/centertriangle/
     What is the center of a triangle? This 
question might be more complicated than you first 
think it is! During a three-day project, high 
school geometry students in Honolulu explore this 
question using interactive geometry software.
     
Connecting Geometry
     http://mathforum.org/~sanders/connectinggeometry
     Connecting Geometry will help you discover 
geometry and its many connections with the world, 
in science, art, navigation and architecture, 
through these web pages and the vast resources of 
the Internet.
     
MathArt Connections
     http://mathforum.org/~sanders/mathart/
     MathArt Connections is a class designed to 
introduce students to many interesting 
connections between mathematics, art, 
architecture and design. In this class, students 
will read the MathArt Connections web pages as a 
guide to learning the principles that connect 
mathematics and a variety of art forms.

From Art Beaver

There is a new web site specifically for Native News, the site is also used
to advertise for Human Resources job postings.
http://www.nationtalk.ca/index.php