MrHonner

Science and Religion

My latest effort for the New York Times Learning Network is a text-based lesson designed to get students thinking about the relationship between science and religion.

Using the NYT LN’s text-to-text format, we’ve put a 1930’s NYT editorial by Albert Einstein on “Religion and Science” together with a recent article about efforts between physicists and Tibetan monks to improve understanding between the two groups. Students read the two pieces with some guiding questions, looking for similarities and differences between what Einstein and the Dalai Lama are describing.

The Einstein piece is especially good. Here is a favorite excerpt.

It is therefore, quite natural that the churches have always fought against science, and have persecuted its supporters. But, on the other hand, I assert that the cosmic religious experience is the strongest and the noblest driving force behind scientific research … What a deep faith in the rationality of the structure of the world and what a longing to understand even a glimpse of the reason revealed in the world there must have been in Kepler and Newton to enable them to unravel the mechanism of the heavens in long years of lonely work!

In any event, I’m proud to have brought Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, and the Dalai Lama together in one piece! You can read it here.

By MrHonner, 13 yearsNovember 1, 2013 ago

Teaching Technology

On Instructional Technology

I have taught in a variety of physical settings, from old-school classrooms with desks bolted to the floor to modern environments that synthesize collaborative space with individual work stations. In these various spaces I’ve successfully integrated all kinds of technology into teaching and learning: smartboards, projectors, clickers, laptops, sensors, calculators, and the like.

As far as I’m concerned, sometimes all a class needs is one good problem written on the board, but overall I consider myself to be a technology-positive teacher. I like to try to new things and I do my best to use what’s available.

But without question, this is the single most valuable piece of instructional technology I’ve encountered.

I started teaching in a classroom full of these desks several years ago, and I’d hate to have to teach without them. They are light, easy to move around, and extremely flexible when it comes to grouping.

It’s so easy to transition from pairs to fours

that students do it without prompting. When the situation calls for more collaboration, they simply rearrange themselves. If they want to merge into another group, they do it.

I love the wealth of tools that are available to math teachers now–Geogebra, Desmos, Wolfram Alpha, Sage, and others–but if I had to choose just one thing to have in my classroom, these desks would be it.

By MrHonner, 13 yearsOctober 29, 2013 ago

Appreciation Art

Math Art: Worm Eaten Sphere

This is “Worm Eaten Sphere” by Friedhelm Kurpig. This sculpture earned the “Best Craftsmanship” award at Bridges 2013. You can find out more about the artist’s work here.

This is another piece from the 2013 Bridges Mathematical Art Gallery.

By MrHonner, 13 yearsOctober 27, 2013 ago

Challenge NYT

Math Quiz — NYT Learning Network

Through Math for America, I am part of an ongoing collaboration with the New York Times Learning Network. My latest contribution, a Test Yourself quiz-question, can be found here

Test Yourself Math — October 23, 2013

This question deals with drugs prices in the United States. Drugs account for about 10% of the US’s $2.7 trillion annual health bill: how much is spent per person on drugs?

By MrHonner, 13 yearsOctober 23, 2013 ago

Resources Teaching

Happy Birthday, NYT Learning!

The New York Times Learning Network just celebrated its 4th birthday!

NYT Learning is a collection of free teaching and learning resources designed around New York Times content. NYT Learning posts lessons, quizzes, questions-of-the-day, and many other resources for use in and out of classrooms.

I have been contributing to the Learning Network for over three years. Since my first Numbers in the News quiz, I have contributed over 50 math quiz questions and a dozen or so mathematics lessons, all tied directly to the stories and the resources of the New York Times. And I’m proud that, once again, one of my pieces made their Top Ten posts of year!

So happy birthday, NYT Learning! Here’s to many more years of teaching and learning with the New York Times.

By MrHonner, 13 yearsOctober 21, 2013 ago