Author: Simon Barlovits

MCM@home in Slovakia

Silvia Haringova of the Constantine the Philosopher university in Nitra presented the MathCityMap@home concept in online teacher trainings for around 700 teachers. Furthermore, she conducted lessons with more than 150 lower- and upper-secondary school students. In the interview, Silvia looks back on her student time and describes the teacher training concept.   Looking back on […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
General

Silvia Haringova of the Constantine the Philosopher university in Nitra presented the MathCityMap@home concept in online teacher trainings for around 700 teachers. Furthermore, she conducted lessons with more than 150 lower- and upper-secondary school students. In the interview, Silvia looks back on her student time and describes the teacher training concept.

 

Looking back on student time: Participating in a course about MathCityMap

During the Intensive study programme (ISP) organized within the MoMaTrE project, which I participated in March 2018 at the Goethe-University in Frankfurt, I was taught everything necessary to create and implement my own trails in Slovakia.

Based on my participation in the ISP I chose a diploma thesis aiming at math trails. I describe the principles and specifics of the designing tasks for MathCityMap and my goal is also to create several math trails. I also deal with trails within the project Comenius Institute, an annual educational programme designed for pre-service, beginning and in-service teachers as well as heads of schools organized by the non-governmental non-profit organization Živica. Each year, 20 teachers have the opportunity to participate in this programme. The main goal of my project is to increase awareness of math trails in primary and secondary schools among various teaching communities throughout whole Slovakia.

 

Being a lecturer: Disseminating the MCM@home concept

With the project, I tried to motivate my classmates at the university and involve them in the design and implementation of math trails. I created a Facebook page (click here), where I regularly publish various articles trying to promote this new way of teaching mathematics outdoors using mobile technologies. In cooperation with the Comenius Institute, we organized a webinar about trails. The webinar was held online and was attended by more than 700 teachers of various subjects. During the students’ practice, I conducted 9 [MCM@home] trails with more than 150 lower- and upper-secondary school pupils.

 

A list with several MCM@home trails from all over the world can be found here:

Collection of MCM@home Trails

Our special on EURO 2021: Football in math lessons

It’s finally starting! On Friday, June 11, 2021, the opening match between Italy and Turkey will take place in Rome. A short time later, the strong national teams from Belgium, England and Spain will also start the tournament. Group F, in which top favorite France will be challenged by Germany and Portugal, will be particularly […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
General

It’s finally starting! On Friday, June 11, 2021, the opening match between Italy and Turkey will take place in Rome. A short time later, the strong national teams from Belgium, England and Spain will also start the tournament. Group F, in which top favorite France will be challenged by Germany and Portugal, will be particularly explosive.

Regardless of the outcome of the tournament, the European Championship will be the hot topic in the upcoming weeks! On our partner site fussballmathe.de, the team around Prof. Dr. Matthias Ludwig (Goethe University Frankfurt) provides you with a variety of information and materials for your mathematics lessons:

  • Do you know how to (approximately) make a football out of 24 congruent kite quadrilaterals?
  • Or how you can use the path rule to predict the probability of Germany making it to the round of 16?
  • Do you know the birthday paradox and what it has to do with the EURO 2021?

You can find material for these and many other questions at fussballmathe.de. In addition, you will find there our prediction who will be the winner of the tournament…

MOOC: MathCityMap all over the world

Yesterday the great MathCityMap MOOC within the Erasmus+ project MaSCE³ ended. In this article we present experiences of teachers. And of course, we also want to thank all participants and in particular all organizers of the MOOC.   Experiences with MathCityMap: In the following statements, the teachers participating in the MOOC review on the course […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
General

Yesterday the great MathCityMap MOOC within the Erasmus+ project MaSCE³ ended. In this article we present experiences of teachers. And of course, we also want to thank all participants and in particular all organizers of the MOOC.

 

Experiences with MathCityMap:

In the following statements, the teachers participating in the MOOC review on the course and their made experiences with doing mathematics outdoors with their classes.

Veronica Sambataro (United Kingdom, Secondary level):
I attended this course as a postgraduate student and a future teacher. For testing the math trail, I decided to involve my households – and it was very fun. Some of them told me that it was really fun discovered new formulas and enjoying with math! I will use MathCityMap for sure when I will be a teacher a day!!

Gina Patricia Paz Huamán (Peru, University level):
Today I applied with a group of students of Higher Education the “Mathematical Route in Pueblo Libre” that I prepared with the MathCityMap application. This experience has been positively valued by them who consider that it will be very motivating to use it with the students of Basic Education for whom the activity was prepared. It has been very exciting to use the digital classroom in this activity, to see how the groups are formed, the progress of each one of them and how they solve the challenges posed.

Margherita Motteran (Italia, Secondary level):
Today we had fun trying to solve problems in reality mathematically. In order to determine the dimensions of real objects, students used different strategies that they developed themselves. This activity stimulated their imagination and increased their math skills. We plan to use MCM often in the future.

Thanks a lot!

The entire MathCityMap team Frankfurt would like to thank the main organisers of the MOOC. Within the MaSCE³ project, the MOOC was prepared, guided and accompanied by:

Eugenia Taranto (Italy), Christian Mercat (France), Elisabete Cunha (Portugal), Claudia Lázaro (Spain), Andrus Rinde (Estonia) and Simone Jablonski (Germany).

Thank you very much for your commitment!

Exam preparation with MCM@home

Norbert Goeth participated in our MathCityMap training series in cooperation with the Hessian Ministry of Education. In the interview, the teacher tells us about the use of MathCityMap for exam preparation.   Where do you personally see the added value of MCM@home?I see the added value in the successive streamlining of the collection of the […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
General

Norbert Goeth participated in our MathCityMap training series in cooperation with the Hessian Ministry of Education. In the interview, the teacher tells us about the use of MathCityMap for exam preparation.

 


Where do you personally see the added value of MCM@home?
I see the added value in the successive streamlining of the collection of the previous year’s ZAA tasks, if these are provided with a schedule with the possibility of control. At the beginning of the year, the STARK booklets (containing the final exams of the last years) are purchased – and initially disappear unread. Beginning in late summer, teachers point out the need for these preparations (in addition to normal instruction), but the response is hesitant and restrained. I think the MCM@home paths for these assignments are a great way to give teachers a tool to easily see which students are working on the assignments, where they are struggling, and where you need to increase the pressure on solution commitment.


What did your learners report back to you?
I told my class 10 about my training and the tool. Yes, the idea is well received and depending on their learning attitude, they have emphasized more the supporting or controlling options in their assessment.


What MCM@home digital learning paths have you created yourself?
ZAA tasks from the years that will not be printed by STARK publisher in the current books in the future (ZAA-2012-RS and ZAA-2013-RS, each mandatory tasks), currently I am dealing with the elective tasks.

Searching for more information?
An overview of all MCM@home learning paths can be found here.


How did the creation of your trails work out?
Pretty well. The program is largely self-explanatory, though the pitfalls are always in the details. Overall, creating tasks, if you want to do it well, is time-consuming. But that’s where MCM is no different than anything else, because the effort isn’t on MCM.

The great MCM MOOC: Math Trail in Tours

The great MathCityMap online training series is now coming to an end on May 31. As part of our MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), more than 100 teachers from all over the world have become real MathCityMap experts! The teachers not only created tasks and math trails themselves and received many valuable tips through our […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
Events

The great MathCityMap online training series is now coming to an end on May 31. As part of our MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), more than 100 teachers from all over the world have become real MathCityMap experts!

The teachers not only created tasks and math trails themselves and received many valuable tips through our expert review, but also tried out their own trails with their classes.

 

In addition to the pirate trail from Alcobendas in Spain, we would like to present Anne-Laure Migné’s maths trail in Tours as a representative of the many creative trails that were created during the MOOC: The “Parcours mathématiques et patrimoine à Tours” offers eight exciting tasks on the cultural heritage of the French city of Tours and leads the mathematicians through the city’s contemporary history: We start with the Gallo-Roman wall from the 4th century. Then the medieval cathedral and the historic old town are visited. Finally – welcome to the modern age – the Wilson Stone Bridge and the Hôtel de ville are visited. For more information on the mathematical city walk by Anne-Laure Migné, visit the website of the city of Tours.

The math trail “Promenade mathématique dans Bayeux“ by Flavie Aubourg is another French trail which was created during the MOOC. It was presented in the local news by Ouest France.

Thanks a lot!

The entire MathCityMap team Frankfurt would like to thank the main organisers of the MOOC. Within the MaSCE³ project, the MOOC was prepared, guided and accompanied by:

Eugenia Taranto (Italy), Christian Mercat (France), Elisabete Cunha (Portugal), Claudia Lázaro (Spain), Andrus Rinde (Estonia) and Simone Jablonski (Germany).

Thank you very much for your commitment!

Spanish Month of Mathematics with MCM

MathCityMap is broadly disseminated in Spain: In addition to our long-term partner FESPM, a teachers’ association, our project is now also promoted by the initiators of the mes de las matemáticas (month of mathematics) in Spain. For this purpose, in cooperation between mes de las matemáticas and the FESPM, seven trails have been created, three […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
General

MathCityMap is broadly disseminated in Spain: In addition to our long-term partner FESPM, a teachers’ association, our project is now also promoted by the initiators of the mes de las matemáticas (month of mathematics) in Spain.

For this purpose, in cooperation between mes de las matemáticas and the FESPM, seven trails have been created, three of them for primary school children and four for secondary school children. Four of the new math trails are located in Malaga near the Costa del Sol, and two others in Jaén, Andalusia. The seventh and last math trail, which was created as part of this project, was created in Alcobendas near Madrid. We will present it to you in May as Trail of the Month.

 

List of the new math trails:

Present your task at MathCityMap!

We regularly present interesting tasks and trails from all over the world in our rubrics “Task of the Week” and “Trail of the Month”. Would you also like to present your task or trail to other users? We are very happy about that! Therefore, you just have to send an email to barlovits[at]math.uni-frankfurt.de. Answer the […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
Task of the WeekTrail des Monats

We regularly present interesting tasks and trails from all over the world in our rubrics “Task of the Week” and “Trail of the Month”. Would you also like to present your task or trail to other users? We are very happy about that!


Therefore, you just have to send an email to barlovits[at]math.uni-frankfurt.de. Answer the following questions in your mail:

  1. How did youget in contact withthe MathCityMap project? How do you use MCM and why?
  2. Describe your trail / your task. What is special about this trail / task?
  3. What are your didactic goals in using MathCityMap and your trail / your task?
  4. Further remarks about MCM?

We are looking forward to your answers!
Your MathCityMap team

Task of the Week: A Giant from University

In Freiburg, student teacher Meryem Moll has created the task “The giant in front of the Albert-Ludwig University” which we present today. The aim of the task is to estimate the size of a statue: How tall would the statue pictured be if it stood up?  In the following interview, Meryem Moll talks about her […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
Task of the Week

In Freiburg, student teacher Meryem Moll has created the task “The giant in front of the Albert-Ludwig University” which we present today. The aim of the task is to estimate the size of a statue: How tall would the statue pictured be if it stood up?  In the following interview, Meryem Moll talks about her studies, MathCityMap and the task.


How did you come across the MathCityMap project? How do you use MCM?

I came across the MCM app while searching for a topic for my bachelor’s thesis in mathematics at the University of Education in Freiburg in the bachelor’s degree for primary education.

I am very interested in the meaningful use of digital media in elementary school as well as gamification of lessons, which is why my supervising lecturer made me aware of the MCM project.  My bachelor thesis was about how the process-related competencies “problem solving” and “modeling” can be promoted already in elementary school with the help of the MCM app.

I think working with the app is great, especially because it is also very naturally structured and easy to use, which is why I also think it can be used profitably for elementary school students. For my future teaching as a math teacher, it’s important to me that the children see a personal benefit and meaning behind the math tasks at school or in math in general, and that they apply them to their own learning. This is something that apps like the MCM app can contribute to enormously, as students nowadays grow up with digital media and these can be used in such a meaningful way.


What can the children learn by solving the task?

In the task “The giant in front of the Albert-Ludwig University”, I was concerned with the learners being able to decide which parts of the statue’s body are relevant for measuring the height of the body, as well as the correct use of or handling of measuring devices (meter stick/tape measure).

In addition, the children should use their previous ideas of size with the task by first estimating the size of the giant and then also comparing it with their own height through a personal reference. In general, however, I was primarily concerned that the children should be able to experience application-based math lessons with the help of the trail and learn to transfer the “theory” from the classroom to reality, thereby deepening their understanding of it.

Collection of MCM@home Trails

Dear users, in the last year, a large number of MCM@home trails have been created. Students can work on these digital learning paths from home or in distance learning phases. All your learners have to do is to enter the code in the free and GPDR-compliant MathCityMap app. Ready to start! We hope you enjoy […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
General

Dear users,

in the last year, a large number of MCM@home trails have been created. Students can work on these digital learning paths from home or in distance learning phases.

All your learners have to do is to enter the code in the free and GPDR-compliant MathCityMap app. Ready to start!

We hope you enjoy working through them!

 

LanguageGradeTitelCode
English7[MCM@home] Pribina Square Nitra052591
9Erasmus Days 2020 I273177
9Erasmus Days 2020 II583178
9MCM@Home: Semarang232525
10[MCM@home] Berlin052524
Spanish8Actividades en casa062651
8El patio de mi casa es particular…472991
8MathCity@Home 2º ESO562551
9Campo de fútbol del Racing de Santander782526
9Ruta PI de la FESPM044282
10Matemáticas en el baloncesto382998
10Noche Europea de los Investigadores-Noviembre 2020893300
Italian8Matematica a tutto tondo per IDM 2021 – scuola secondaria di I grado044258
11Matematica a tutto tondo per IDM 2021 – scuola secondaria di II grado184244
Portuguese8MCM@Home: PT-Porto [7/8]692543
9MCM@Home: PT-Porto [9]062544
9MCM_PI_Guimaraes @ home384252
12MCM@Home: PT-Guimarães022552
Slovak5[MCM@home]Dubovce2164107
5[MCM@home]Kombinatorika okolo prezidentského paláca v Bratislave342691
6[MCM@home] Dvory nad Žitavou292584
7[MCM@home] Pribinovo námestie Nitra142598
7[MCM@home]Holíčsky zámok392602
7[MCM@home]Senica172870
8[MCM@home]Dubovce342540
8[MCM@home]U včelárov363332
8[MCM@home]Veľké Borové393526
8Vratna@Home562529
9[MCM@home] Detské ihrisko Nové Zámky383533
9[MCM@home] Objemy a povrchy v lesoparku Žilina152588
9[MCM@home]Skalica692760
9[MCM@home]Stromy okolo rieky Nitra174015
10[MCM@home]πNitra084229
Indonesian9MCM@home: Matematika di Sekitar Kita684255
German3Mathe-Adler Knobelaufgaben072592
3Mathe-Adler Rätselspaß282593
3Mathe-Adler: Folgen und Reihen012519
3Mathe-Adler: Kombinatorik262518
3Mathe-Adler: Zahlenrätsel192515
3Rechentricks für die Mathe-Adler073299
4MathCityMap@home Fortbildung – Grundschule353578
6Mathe-Adler Knobeln für Fortgeschrittene054098
8MCM indoors: Mathematik-Wettbewerb 1183150
8MCM indoors: Mathematik-Wettbewerb 2073244
8MCM@Home: Lineare Funktionen012514
8Umgang mit Termen063152
9MCM@Home LemaS Fortbildung Bremen344106
9MCM@Home: Quadratische Funktionen682517
9iM INTernet: Fortbildung zu MCM@home154204
9MCM@home-Fortbildung783277
9ZAA HS Pflichtteil 2019354115
9ZAA HS Wahlteil 2018014129
10ZAA HS Wahlteil 2019144260
10Mathematik ist überall! Trail zum IDM 2021134205
10MCM@Home: Ffm a. M.692521
10ZAA RS Pflichtteil 2019164132
10ZAA RS Wahlteil 2018124130
10ZAA RS Wahlteil 2019174133

 

Did you also create a MCM@home learning path and would like to share it with other users? Great!

Then please write an email with…

  • the name of your MCM@home trail,
  • the related code,
  • the grade level,
  • and the language of the digital learning path

to barlovits[at]math.uni-frankfurt.de.

We would be very happy to add your contribution to the list as well!

Trail of the Month: Veľké Borové – 3rd Part

In this interview with Sona Ceretkova, we focus on the learning path “[MCM@home]Veľké Borové” which is awarded as MathCityMap Trail of the Month in April 2021! The first part of the interview can be seen here. The second part is available here. Collection of MCM@home Trails: Click here to get an overview about all digital […]

Author Simon BarlovitsDate
Trail of the Month

In this interview with Sona Ceretkova, we focus on the learning path “[MCM@home]Veľké Borové” which is awarded as MathCityMap Trail of the Month in April 2021! The first part of the interview can be seen here. The second part is available here.

Collection of MCM@home Trails:

Click here to get an overview about all digital learning paths which were created by MathCityMap partners

Dear Sona, do you use MCM or MCM@home regularly in university courses?

Future mathematics teachers have a trail included as a project within the subject Methods of Solving Mathematical Problems. The students get a complex understanding of the methodology of outdoor mathematics teaching as well as the MCM application and MCM portal. Their task is to create their own trail in their place of residence, with at least five tasks.

The trail is a part of five mathematical projects within one semester and it`s evaluation is included in the overall course grade. We are planning to prepare methodological guidance for students on the trail “peer assessment” with summative assessment principles.

 

Describe one of your tasks. How can it be solved? What can students learn by solving this task?

Bus stop: The bus stop at the end of the village of Veľké Borové is called Škrlák. Here the bus turns and goes back. For how many hours will there be no bus departure from the village of Veľké Borové?

Solving the problem is not difficult, it does not require special mathematical knowledge. It is important to study the timetable carefully. In some literature, the ability to read, interpret and orient oneself correctly in documents, in various schemes and plans or maps is called: document literacy. When reading a timetable, document literacy is linked to mathematical competencies that every person needs in everyday life.

Many people do not realize that when looking for answers to questions about time, about time orientation, when counting time periods, etc., they use a number system based on the number 60. In addition, in the timetable, which is located at the bus stop, there is not only time data, but other data, that provides the possibility to create tasks in a real context. In the diagram, we can read the codes of the days of the week on which the bus operates, the dates during the year when the bus does not operate, the name of the terminal but also the names of other places in which the bus stops. It is also important to note whether such timetable is still valid. Paper timetables published at bus or train stops may be unnecessary for many, as most of the information can be found on the Internet. But many, especially senior citizens, need this kind of “security” on paper. And how do you find the necessary information if your mobile phone has just run out of battery or you are in a place in the mountains where there is no internet coverage? A paper itinerary is a certainty.

 

Any further comments on MCM?

MathCityMap is an inspiring application with great potential in teaching mathematics at all school levels as well as in teacher training and in further education of teachers. We are currently preparing a trail on the topic: “Trees”. In the tasks we will deal with various numerical parameters of individual trees or groups of trees or alleys. Each task will be supplemented with interesting information about the tree type. The aim of the trail will be not only to strengthen mathematical literacy, but most of all to draw attention to the ecological and environmental significance of trees in the area where we live – a realization that trees are exceptional living organisms and that they significantly and often inconspicuously affect our lives.

The trail will be incorporated into the material for students, future teachers of STEM subjects, and it is a part of the intellectual output of the international project ENSITE. The project is being prepared by a consortium of eleven European universities led by the University of Education in Freiburg. Thus, many future teachers at universities across Europe, from Norway to Cyprus, will learn about MathCityMap trails. We are convinced that we will inspire them.