Non-routine problems

Using Unique Non-Routine Problems and Activities to Learn and to ENHANCE Good High School MATHEMATICS

presented by Duane Bollenbacher

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, June 18-20, 2013

 
Description

This 3-day workshop is designed for the high school mathematics teacher who wants to learn–and learn how to effectively use–SPECIAL, UNIQUE problems and activities to engage, extend and challenge your students' higher level thinking. Many of these activities are physically hands-on. Many of the "CLASSIC" mathematical problems of all ages will be presented. Many non-routine problems will be shared that will help your students develop their higher-level thinks skills in LOGIC.

This course, along with one other course, may be used by an INTERVENTION SPECIALIST to become a HIGHLY QUALIFIED             TEACHER (HQT) in mathematics CONTENT.

Content

• Lots and lots of non-routine problem-solving
• Problem-solving strategies
• Patterns and polynomials
• Magic Squares and extensions
• Magic Circle
• Soma Cubes
• 4-color problem
• Hexahexaflexagon
• Mobius Strip
• System of drill commands
• Geoboards
• GeoGebra
• Making CONNECTIONS among different courses, topics, and concepts
• Classic money problems
• Classic problems—checkerboard, handshake, 7 pt-3 pt problem, pieces of pizza, exactly 4 gallons of water, 20022002, chocolate pudding, and MORE
   

Course Expectations

Attendance at all sessions
Participation in all activities
Sharing teaching ideas that have worked for you

Problems to Ponder for the Workshop

• Look at the figure below.  Find the radius of the smallest circle containing the symmetric figure composed of the three squares shown.
  
• The sum of the digits of a 3-digit number is 18. How many such 3-digit numbers are there? (NOTE: a 3-digit number does not begin with zero.) This problem should pique your interest, so now EXTEND the problem.