When I saw this ESchoolMedia article, my first response was, He** no! but I paused to ask why a reputable magazine would even ask this question. Before reading the article, I asked Grok the same question. Here’s what a generative AI has to say about that issue:

The end of STEM: Why AI-driven education must replace an outdated model

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Two math celebrations are coming up: Pi Day and World Maths Day

Pi Day

Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). It is observed March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the three most significant digits of π in the decimal form.

Daniel Tammet, a high-functioning autistic savant, held the European record for reciting pi from memory to 22,514 digits in five hours and nine minutes until 2015 when Rick de Jong of the Netherlands recited pi to 22,612 digits in five hours and 34 minutes. His record was then broken by Rajveer Meena of India, who recited 70,000 digits in 2015 blindfolded. It took over nine hours. That remains the world record to date.

. Here’s how you can memorize the first 100 digits of Pi:

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With the disturbing news about plummeting math scores here in the US, it’s good to review math teaching in your classroom and consider better ways to deliver lessons to students. The Ask a Tech Teacher team has ideas for you:

How to Make Learning Math More Interactive and Engaging

Math has a reputation—either you love it or avoid it like a pop quiz you forgot to study for. For many students, the struggle isn’t about intelligence but how math is taught. Endless drills, repetitive problem sets, and old-school memorization techniques can make even the most curious minds switch off.

But here is the thing: math does not have to be boring. It’s hidden in video games, sports stats, music beats, and even how your favorite social media app recommends content. The problem is that most teaching methods do not expose these fascinating aspects of mathematics.

Thankfully, technology, video games, and interactive hobbies may alter the story in the modern day. Here are some strategies to make arithmetic interesting and remembered, whether you’re a teacher, parent, or just a kid looking to transform math from a chore into something fun. (more…)

Ask a Tech Teacher is officially on Thanksgiving break so I’m going to pop in here with two posts from our international team that just couldn’t wait:

• Top 5 Game Development Platforms for Young Coders: Building Skills with Fun–perfect for those still doing Hour of Code in December (see below)

• From Blank Page to First Chapter: A Beginner’s Guide on How to Start Writing a Book–for the teacher-authors following Ask a Tech Teacher, a how-to primer on writing the book that rattles around in your head (click link)

Top 5 Game Development Platforms for Young Coders: Building Skills with Fun

Imagine a world where kids can bring their wildest ideas to life, creating games full of flying dragons, talking robots, and mysterious mazes. What if coding could be that fun? Well, it absolutely can be! Learning to code through game development is like having a backstage pass to the world of game creation, where kids don’t just play games—they build them!

At CodaKid, we believe coding should be as exciting as the games kids love to play. With a little guidance, young coders can learn the basics of programming, all while designing their own worlds, characters, and stories. And the best part? Game development teaches kids valuable skills like creativity, problem-solving, and persistence—skills they’ll use for life!

In this article, we’ll explore five awesome game development platforms that make learning to code as fun as a high-score screen. Let’s dive in and find the perfect platform to inspire your young game designer! (more…)

National STEM Day is November 8, 2024, the unofficial holiday that celebrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education throughout the United States. Many add ‘art’ to the celebration for the acronym, STEAM. Here are some great ideas that remind your students of the excitement that is these core subjects:

Ten Ways to Celebrate National STEM Day with NASA

National STEM Day focuses on helping students advance in STEM fields, a priority of NASA as we continue to push the boundaries of exploration and soar into the future. In celebration of National STEM Day, we challenge you to engage and inspire the Artemis generation as we go forward to the Moon by 2024 and continue to innovate in the areas of Earth science and aeronautics. To help you join in on the festivities, here are 10 ways you can celebrate National STEM Day with us.

49 STEM Activities for Students 

On November 8^th, we will celebrate National STEM Day to get kids excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Together the STEM subjects represent some of the fastest-growing and most in-demand fields in the United States.

While STEM topics seem a natural fit in high schools and post-secondary curriculum, education experts are promoting a focus on STEM subjects for younger and younger children. 

12 Projects for your STEAM program

Twelve favorite STEAM projects where artistic thinking becomes the engine for unpacking solutions. 

Activities from Engineering for Kids

National STEM/STEAM Day is dedicated to all things science, technology, engineering, art, and math. STEM (and STEAM) represents some of the fastest-growing and in-demand fields in the world today and Engineering For Kids is passionate about inspiring the next generation of engineers, artists, and innovators.

Bring Weather into Your Lesson Plan with Earth Networks and WeatherSTEM

One of the hottest topics in schools and an area of greatest need is STEM resources.  Earth Networks has developed creative and compelling STEM curricula on a variety of weather topics. Any school with a weather unit or an onsite weather station will appreciate this site. I asked them to drop in and explain their education programs to the AATT community:

4 Lesson plans

This STEM bundle includes four lesson plans: Engineering and Design, The Human Body, Keyboarding and the Scientific Method, and Robotics. All incorporate technology into authentic class activities such as bridge building, note-taking, and math. Each lesson plan includes an Essential Question and Big Idea, average time required to complete, suggested appropriate grade level, suggested teacher preparation, step-by-step directions (see preview for an example), assessment strategies, pedagogic background, samples, and images (where relevant). 

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Sophia Birk, a digital nomad currently living in Poland, is an international member of the AATT team of educators and a math aficionado. Here are her thoughts on navigating key topics in GCSE Maths:

From Fractions to Functions: Navigating Key Topics in GCSE Maths

The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams are a major ordeal for students and teachers. For our learners, the issue revolves around earning the best marks  – the highest grades. For teachers, preparing students for GCSE success is the greatest concern.

Maths is one of two compulsory GCSE subjects. It’s also a life skill that, woefully, far too few are well-versed in, according to statistics. Maths teachers aim to ensure learners leave school with well-developed numeracy capabilities. The GCSE exam certifies their efforts.

These papers test students over everything they learned in maths classes, from primary school through secondary education. Thus, pupils have much to revise ahead of their exams. This article presents the six key topics that feature on the exam, and what each topic covers. (more…)

Two math celebrations are coming up on March 14th: Pi Day and World Maths Day

Pi Day

Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the three most significant digits of π in the decimal form.

Daniel Tammet, a high-functioning autistic savant, holds the European record for reciting pi from memory to 22,514 digits in five hours and nine minutes.

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Word problems are popular and fun methods of teaching math and English in many schools. Why? See which of these you agree with:

1. Real-world relevance: They present scenarios that make concepts more tangible and help students see the practical applications of what they are learning.
2. Critical thinking: They require students analyze information, identify relevant concepts.
3. Multifaceted learning: Word problems often involve multiple steps that integrate a variety of concepts and skills.
4. Language skills: Word problems involve reading and understanding written instructions, requiring students interpret written information, extract relevant details, and communicate solutions.

Here are popular online resources to teach about Word Problems (click for updates on this list):

1. Expii Solve–math word problems and puzzles, lots of them
2. IXL Word Problems–by grade
3. Math and Logic Problems
4. Math Pickle–puzzles, games, and mini competitions
5. Prodigy Math Word Problems–about 120
6. Thinking Blocks–free (app)
7. Word problems–type them in, Wolfram/Alpha provides the answer and the how-to. Amazing.
8. Word Problems from Math Playground
9. Would You Rather–more like a justification for decisions using math

–image credit Deposit Photos

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Graphing is an important skill for students whether they go to college after High School or start a career. It teaches:

1. Visualization and Understanding: Graphing helps students visually represent data, functions, and relationships. This visual representation often aids in understanding complex concepts that may be difficult to grasp through purely symbolic or verbal explanations.
2. Problem Solving: Graphs provide a way to solve problems and make predictions. Whether it’s analyzing trends in data, finding optimal solutions in optimization problems, or understanding the behavior of functions, graphing is a valuable tool for problem-solving.
3. Communication of Ideas: Graphs provide a universal language for communicating ideas across different fields. Whether in mathematics, science, economics, or engineering, graphs are commonly used to convey information in a concise and understandable manner.
4. Critical Thinking: Interpreting graphs requires critical thinking skills. Students learn to analyze and interpret data, identify patterns and trends, and make inferences based on the information presented in the graph.
5. Preparation for Higher Education and Careers: Graphing skills are fundamental in many higher education disciplines and careers. Whether students pursue studies in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), social sciences, or business, they will likely encounter situations where graphing skills are essential.
6. Technology Proficiency: With the prevalence of graphing software and tools, teaching graphing also involves teaching students how to effectively use technology to create and analyze graphs. This proficiency in using graphing software is beneficial in both academic and professional settings.
7. Promoting Creativity: Graphing can be a creative process, particularly when students are tasked with representing data or functions in innovative ways. Encouraging creativity in graphing assignments can make the learning process more engaging and enjoyable for students.

I start students in 2nd grade with a spreadsheet program. Here are some of the lessons I teach (available for free on Ask a Tech Teacher): (more…)

The Role of Mathematics in Education: What Professions You Can Get in the Future

Have you ever found yourself pondering the real-world applications of those algebraic formulas or geometric theorems you spent hours trying to decipher in school? Or perhaps, amidst a particularly challenging calculus problem, you’ve questioned how this abstract world of numbers and symbols could possibly influence your future career? Well, you’re not alone. Mathematics, often dubbed the universal language, plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational foundation necessary for a plethora of professions. Let’s dive into the essence of mathematics in education and uncover the vast array of future career opportunities it unlocks. (more…)