Breakout Sessions | Agenda | How to Register | Directions

• Math Class Goes to Hollywood
  John Hornsby, University of New Orleans
  
  
• Deepening the Preservice Teachers' Understanding of Rational Numbers
  Janie Schielack, Texas A & M University
  
  
• The Case for Excel in the Mathematics Classroom
  Paula Young, Salem College
  
  
• The Virtual Math Lab: On-line Courses and Assessment
  Kris Sommerfeld, Addison-Wesley Technology Specialist
  
  

Math Class Goes to Hollywood
Come and view scenes from major motion pictures over the years that have included good, bad, and ugly mathematics. Screenwriters have used the Pythagorean Theorem, geometry of the circle, irrationality of pi, computation, logic puzzles, and even solving problems involving the rate of work in some very creative, interesting, and sometimes not-so-accurate ways. Suggestions on how these scenes can be used in elementary algebra classes will be provided.

Deepening the Preservice Teachers' Understanding of Rational Numbers
The understanding of rational numbers has been shown to be an area of weakness in both middle school students and preservice teachers. This session will present an exploration into patterns and relationships that help build a deeper understanding of the meanings of and symbols for representing rational numbers.

The Case for Excel in the Mathematics Classroom
Many of us, whether for pedagogical reasons or because of institutional pressure, have considered Excel as a technology alternative for the mathematics classroom. We will discuss several ways in which a blank or customized spreadsheet can bring topics to life in first-year mathematics courses.

The Virtual Math Lab: On-line Courses and Assessment
With the increasing demand for on-line courses and assessment, mathematics educators are in need of good tools that will help them develop such resources quickly and easily. This session will review several excellent web-based applications that Addison-Wesley has developed for both instructors and students. Foremost among them is MyMathLab, an on-line teaching and learning tool designed to accompany all major Addison-Wesley mathematics textbooks. Other web based tools to be discussed in this session include MathXL, an on-line tutorial, homework, testing, and assessment program; TestGen, a test-creation program that allows tests to be exported to and delivered on-line; Digital Video Tutors, problem-specific tutorial videos on CD-ROM or DVD; and a free, two-way tutoring service available by toll-free phone, email, and fax.