Friends of special dates and numbers might already have noted it in their calendar: Today is Pi Day. Based on the American spelling of today’s date (3/14) and the beginning of the number Pi with its first two decimals, the 14th March is perfect to celebrate Pi. Therefore, today everything at MCM revolves around the circle and we would like to celebrate this with the help of one of our various tasks on the topic of the circle.
How many paving stones are in the red marked area?
Despite various approaches, the number Pi is central while solving the problem. On the one hand, it is possible to determine the number of paving stones in a certain area (for example one square meter) and to project them to the total area. The task can be solved particularly clever by considering a paving stone as a unit and expressing the radius of the circle by the number of stones.
This is just as one example of many tasks in which the number Pi is relevant in everyday life and for the math trail idea (e.g. traffic signs, advertising pillars, trees). In this sense: Happy Pi day!
By the way: the task is part of a trail around the Stuttgart’s stock exchange. They were created by our team and will be officially opened in April.
Thanks to Georgios Fesakis, who educates maths teachers at Aegean University of Rhodos, MCM is now available in Greek. We wish all Greek users and students a lot of fun during creating and solving tasks in the Aegean sun. By the way: at Easter, the MCM team will visit Greece and help to take the first steps.
As part of the joint meeting of GDM and DMV in Paderborn from 05.03. – 09.03.2018, MathCityMap was presented in various ways. First of all, on 06.03. Matthias Ludwig spoke on the Erasmus + project MoMaTrE (Mobile Math Trails in Europe), in which the cooperation partners and goals were presented on an international level. On 08.03., Iwan Gurjanow presented his research results in the field of motivation and gamification (points and leaderboard) while running a math trail. In addition, Joerg Zender considered the Math Trail idea from the point of view of performance, which led to interesting discussions on 09.03.
A special highlight for the entire team is the prize which Daniel Birnbaum and Matthias Ludwig won at the poster session. On the poster, the future-oriented technology Augmented Reality was presented, as well as first ideas to use it in school and MCM.
During the entire conference, the participants had the opportunity to test a trail in the city center of Paderborn. Of course, we took the chance and ran the trail from the perspective of the task solver with lots of fun and ambition.
At this point, we want to thank Max Hoffmann and the students of the Pelizaeus-Gymnasium for creating the tasks! Likewise, we would like to thank all interested in the project for the exciting questions and discussions.
MathCityMap was used as part of a cooperation project of the University of Paderborn under the management of Max Hoffmann with the Pelizaeus Gymnasium in Paderborn. 9th grade students created a mathematical city tour with MathCityMap. Here, you can find further information.
At the beginning of the year, MathCityMap and research results were presented at an international STEM conference in Mumbai, India. Matthias Ludwig spoke at the epiSTEME 7 on 7th January 2018 about the motivational effects of using MathCityMap. Further, he created a small trail together with Xenia Reit, which was enthusiastically tested by the participants of the conference. No wonder in this smartphone addicted country.
MathCityMap is very popular in Münster. In an article, written by Simone Mäteling, it is described how MCM is integrated into the project “Expedition Münsterland”. You can read more in the Artikel MS Land Magazin or at the Webseite .
During summer, we visited Münster University. Even the WDR (a German TV station) reported on this. Since that, the work group headed by Stanislaw Schukaljow has developed several tasks and an own trail in Münster. Of course, we are very pleased to see that und hope for many visitors of the trail. On page 3 of the university newspaper from December 2017, you can read the full article.
In the ongoing development and optimization of MathCityMap, the direct impressions and experiences of students and teachers with the project provide important feedback. Accordingly, the MCM team is very interested in a lively exchange and testing of tasks.
On Wednesday, 08.11.2017, the MCM team welcomed Mrs. Nazanin Roushanaei, a teacher at the Hessen-Homburg school center in Hanau, with her graduating class R10a at the Campus Westend. The students in the class will attend the Final Examinations for the secondary school certificate next spring and are currently reviewing relevant topics in math lessons, e.g. the subject of body calculations, which was compiled for the students in a diverse trail. In this context, Mrs. Roushanaei sees not only the chance to repeat exam relevant knowledge: “MCM offers the pupils the opportunity to get to know body computations in real places and in authentic situations.”
For example, the volume and weight of cuboids were discussed through benches in front of the lecture hall center. In addition to various geometric bodies, slopes and angles were calculated as well. To do this, the students had to model the selected objects with the help of familiar bodies and through flexible use of the acquired knowledge of formulas. Before the trip could start, necessary preparations were made. Due to the high number of Android devices in the class, the participants were able to agree on gamification elements, a tool that makes it possible to compete against each other and compare the results. At the moment, this tool is also planned for the iOS version. The app as well as the trail were downloaded from the class in advance, so that the actual run of the trail does not require internet connection. With the necessary materials (smartphone, pen, calculator and formulary) and the consent of the parents the trip could start.
Nazanin Roushanaei with the MCM App
On the day of the trip, the group was confronted with rainy weather, which however could not dampen the mood. The students were divided into groups of three. This group size has been proven as there are three main functions when running a trail: navigate, measure, and record. In particular, Mrs. Roushanaei noticed a group of three, which has made up of three boys with different migration backgrounds: “Each student from this group has been totally in his role in this trip. One of them always had an overview of the tasks and could link them directly with a mathematical formula. Another boy had a very good orientation in mind and worked as a very good navigator. The third boy was able to change the required formulas correctly. Together, the three boys were able to solve most of the tasks and thereby achieve the highest score in the competition. Since that excursion, I’ve noticed that these three guys are much more motivated in math class than they used to be. I have the impression that the use of MCM and this trail could arouse the interest of these guys in mathematics.” In particular, the used gamification elements motivated the students to solve as many tasks as possible.
Measuring in the group
The feedback given by the students was very positive as well. One student with below-average mathematics performance stated: “This was the most enjoyable trip I’ve ever done with school.” Others said that through solving the tasks, they finally relate to the subject and understand what these formulas are all about. “It was fun for them. They would have liked to stay longer to solve all the tasks” says Mrs. Roushanaei.
Calculations at the ping-pong table
In conclusion, Mrs. Roushanaei states: “MCM is great, not just for kids, but also for teachers. It offers the opportunity to experience mathematics outside and thereby make various calculations real. Although it is said that new textbooks have many authentic tasks; what is more authentic than having children measure real objects themselves? I can recommend any math teacher to use MCM for their own lessons and to make a project day or day trip for the class. I am convinced that, thanks to MCM, mathematics can be interesting for students even in tenth grade.”
Group photo of the class
The MCM team is pleased to receive the helpful and positive feedback from the class and wishes them all the best for their further exam preparation and participation. At least in the topic of geometric bodies, nothing can go wrong now!
Joerg Zender, Iwan Gurjanow and Matthias Ludwig presented MCM in theory and practice on Friday, 17.11.2017 at the ISTRON conference at the Landesinstitut in Hamburg. The lecutre by Matthias Ludwig was very well attended with more than 120 listeners and led into the world of outdoor mathematics. He combined traditional methods such as measuring with the measuring table and the scientific and technological approach of MCM. In the fully booked workshop, Iwan Gurjanow and Joerg Zender presented MCM in practice. First, the participants got the chance to complete some tasks of the prepared trails and created their own tasks and a trail in the MCM portal afterwards. The success of the training was also made possible through the very good technical equipment and support provided by the Landesinstitut Hamburg.
Hamburg was fun again and we are looking forwards to coming back!
