May 2, 2014 (E-Table Training) & May 3, 2014 (Session 8)
Representing Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), Bowen Kerins (research scientist and curriculum designer) and Tracy Cordner (curriculum and instructional design associate) visited from Boston to train Molokaʻi educators in connecting to Oʻahu-based MaTCH sessions remotely using the electronic educational interface “e-table.” During the next day’s MaTCH session, Bowen led participants (including the Molokaʻi e-table of three teachers) in exploring the mathematics behind game shows. The activities reflected the process of mathematical knowledge development, and applied this understanding in their own classrooms. This session also featured secondary mathematics educator Brendan Brennan (of the University Laboratory School) sharing updates and insights from his other work as a Google applications architect and how teachers might readily “migrate” their classrooms and schools to the “cloud.”
April 5, 2014 (Session 7)
Dr. Sarah Post (of UH Mānoa’s Mathematics Department) and Dr. Esther Widiasih (of UH West Oʻahu’s Mathematics Department) demonstrated activities featured in their “Honeybee Math Summer Program,” drawing upon honeybee population data to practice mathematical modeling. MaTCH teacher participants Elaine Sienkiewicz, Kory Ohly, and Janel Marr also conducted a kinesthetic activity in which MaTCH participants generated data (e.g., timed their simulated football plays in a grassy lawn just outside of Webster 101) as a means of better illustrating the values of an equation’s slope and y-intercept.
February 8, 2014 (Session 6)
Dr. Manes challenged participants to define and practice applying concepts relating to optimization, at the same time modeling how to use the online rendering tool “Sketchpad.” MaTCH teacher participant Gary Kikuchi presented and initiated a discussion on teachers’ perspectives on mathematics education that continued (via e-mail among MaTCH participants) beyond the session’s allotted time. This session also marked the first time that a MaTCH participant from off-island (Kauaʻi) was able to tune-in and participate in the session’s activities via Google Hangout.
January 11, 2014 (Session 5)
Teachers engaged in problem-solving activities led by Dr. Melfried Olson (of UHM’s Curriculum Research & Development Group) that involved finding the maximum and minimum number of chords connecting a finite even number of points along a circle and using functions to describe trends discovered. Visiting professor Dr. Kay A. Wohlhuter (of the University of Minnesota, Duluth) enlightened teachers to the plethora of pre-existing mathematics educational resources available online, especially in the form of games with adjustable parameters to provide just the right amount of challenge for students at different stages in their mathematical ability development.
December 14, 2013 (Session 4)
Teachers engaged in artistic problem-solving activities that entailed making curved drawings using straight lines, led by Dr. Manes. MaTCH teacher participants Brian Marguleas and Jill Shimabukuro also led pedagogical activities related to the use of manipulatives in the classroom.
November 2, 3013 (Session 3)
Teachers engaged in problem-solving activities around the forth dimension, led by guest mathematician, Dr. Joel Weiner. Guest pedagogical facilitator, Dr. Lorraine Baron, led a second problem solving activity “the Painted Cube” and highlighted formative assessment practices as she carried out the activity.
October 5, 2013 (Session 2)
Dr. Manes led teachers in “The Game of Nim” problem-solving activities. Teachers worked in groups of 3 to 4 people and considered various winning strategies and variations of the game. Pedagogical development activities addressed issues associated with teachers’ specific grade levels, with Ms. Yagi and Dr. Manes working with the Elementary educator group and Dr. Venenciano working with the Secondary educator group. Each group then watched a video clip of mathematics instruction and, using an observation protocol, critically analyzed the teaching episode.
September 7, 2013 (Session 1)
Teachers engaged in problem-solving activities (e.g., finding the dimensions of all rectangles whose area and perimeter have the same numerical value) led by Dr. Manes and debriefed about the activity. Dr. Venenciano and Ms. Yagi next led activities that introduced and explored the Common Core Mathematical Practices (CCMPs), defining and clarifying each of the eight practices. Teacher groups then created and shared posters for each practice.
