Algebra Part 2 - Factors to Consider

Here is a Wall Wisher for the second half of Algebra, which is all about Factorisation of Polynomials. As usual the wall has plenty of videos, and website links that were found by quite a bit of searching Google and YouTube.

If you would like to view the wall full size, then click the link below.

Click to view the Factorisation wall full size in a new window.

One of the interesting things while building this wall, was finding the following collection of guitars from the John Richardson Band. (From the photos on their website, these guys look like they have been around for a while). http://www.johnrichardsonband.com They sure know how to choose great guitars. The photo of their axes below (along with the amps) is probably the ultimate dream collection for any guitarist.


The classic smooth parabolic curves of the Fender Stratocaster, are a sight that this mathematician always finds aesthetically pleasing.

I have not made any PowerPoints for Factorisation yet, as I plan on using the "Cross Method" to do most of the trinomial work by hand on a whiteboard. We also need to do Greatest Common Factor, which I plan to do using Factor Trees.

It will be a challenging unit, as Algebra is always difficult for most students.

Enjoy,
(Big+ Passy)(Wasabi)

Expanding Your Algebra Knowledge

Welcome to the wonderful expanding world of Algebra.

Yep, we're talking Distributive Law, Binomials, Polynomials, Perfect Squares, and all that sort of fun stuff.

If you would like to see the above "wall" full size, then click the link below:

Click to open the Wall full size in a new window.

This wall has been set up for the maths students at my school to have 24x7 online help for the current Algebra Unit we are doing. If you would like to know how to set up one of these colossal and colorful walls, then click the following link:

Click here to view a PDF on how to use Wall Wisher.

Here is a PowerPoint presentation that has been converted into a Flash slideshow using Open Office Org. Click on the current slide to advance forward.



I plan on printing some of the slides in color, and then doubling their size from A4 up to A3 with a color photocopier.

From previous efforts I have found that PowerPoint leaves a lot of empty white space around the edges of the slides.

So what has to be done is to color print them onto A4 paper, then cut off the wasted white space around the edges of each sheet. We then color photocopy enlarge them by a factor of 175%, onto A3 paper.

I then laminate these A3 printouts, and use them as wall posters in my Maths classroom.

I call them "stick ups" because they are summary notes that can be stuck up onto the wall in any room I am teaching in. Plus I get to crack the repeated dumb joke to the class of "Hey guess what, it's a stick up!"

If you would like to download a copy of the unanimated PowerPoint, (In MS-2003 format) then click the link below:

View "Distributive Law" Presentation as an MS 2003 PPT

Here is another PowerPoint of "stick ups" I made for Binomial Expansions.
Click on the current slide to advance forward.



If you would like to download a copy of the unanimated PowerPoint, (In MS-2003 format) then click the link below:

View "Binomials" Presentation as an MS 2003 PPT

Finally, here is a really good video made by "Yaymath.org" about expanding Binomials using the distributive law as the "FOIL" rule.

The presenter does a really great job. I have shown the video in my Algebra classes and it has been well received. A number of my students are now regular users of "Yay Math".



The Yaymath website is 100% free and is an awesome effort by a guy called Robert Ahdoot who is a high school Math teacher in the USA.

I highly recommend you visit his site at: http://yaymath.org because it has lots of really great material on it for Algebra.

And to finish up, here is the most bizarre maths video I have seen on YouTube to date. It is so different, it is kind of good. :) See what you think.



Well that's about all I need to distribute to you for this post.

Enjoy,
Big (Passy Wasabi)

WallWisher and More Mathematics

 


The above Web page of resources for Junior High School Statistics was built using Wall Wisher. Click the link below to go to the "wall" in a new Web page window:

Click Here to view the Statistics Resources Wall

I have been busy using Wall Wisher again, this time to make a reference wall about Statistics.

Not everything about statistics, but just the basics, excluding Histograms.

I have given the direct web link for the wall to my Mathematics students. They can use the wall as their own personal 24x7 online "Help Manual" for whenever they are at home doing their maths homework.

Wall Wisher was at times "glitchy" during the build, and lost one of my post-its, but then found it again later on. Meanwhile I had redone the post-it, and so later on I had two post-its one on top of each other in view mode.

The annoying thing was that in edit mode, only one of the Post-its showed up, and so I could not delete the duplication. What I had to end up doing was moving the post-it in edit mode away, (leaving a big empty space in the wall), but in View mode this space suddenly fills up with the "prodigal" post-it...Weirdsville !

The annoying thing about Wall Wisher is that there is no manual "Save" button anywhere, and so often we cannot be sure that WW has saved our Wall ok.

I find and gather the items to link to on the wall by doing "Googling". It takes quite a while to sort through and find a good variety of items, and then decide which ones are best for the wall. Because WW is a bit "glitchy", I always cut and paste all of my links into a separate word document as backup, just in case the wall loses any post-its.

Another temporary glitch during this latest build was that for some of the web page links, when we clicked "view" in Wall Wisher to see the web page, the web page shuddered when we scrolled downwards, and went all blurred and distorted. I do not know if this was Wall Wisher, the graphics card of the computer I was using at work at the time, or a lousy internet connection.

Anyway at home, the wall is functioning perfectly, although the red template seems to be awfully bright when the wall first loads in. However psychologically, red is the color for high activity, and so maybe it will spur on the students to do their homework ?

If you would like to view a PDF document that gives full step by step details on how to use Wall Wisher, then click the link below:

Click here to view a PDF on How to Use Wall Wisher


In spite of the occasional glitches, Wall Wisher is a great tool for making an interactive set of links. The end result is very colorful and aesthetically pleasing indeed. These links contain related items, residing in all types of formats, at many different locations throughout the web.

Wall Wisher is fun and very easy to use, so why not give it a go sometime soon.

Enjoy,
Big Passy Wasabi

WallWisher Online Notice Board

The above Web page of resources for Junior High School Geometry was built using Wall Wisher. Click the link below to go to the "wall" in a new Web page window:

Click Here to view the Geometry Resources Wall

Wall Wisher can also be used to have an online group discussion, (that can be asynchronous) like in the following wall:

“Wall Wisher” is a Web 2.0 free online tool where anyone can build a "wall".
Everybody else can then go onto the internet and stick post-it notes electronically onto the wall, (and include linked Pictures, You Tube videos, PowerPoints, PDF documents, Excel Spreadsheets, or web page links). It was originally designed for birthday, anniversary or get well soon etc wishes. A whole group of people could add their messages for someone; and that person could then read them on the web. However, Wall Wisher can be used for educational purposes as well.

If you would like to view a PDF document that gives full step by step details on how to use Wall Wisher, then click the link below:

Click here to view a PDF on How to Use Wall Wisher


Sample Wall Wishers for Teachers

The following is a good example of Brainstorming:
http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/slavery

The following one is a History of the UK’s involvement in Africa :
http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/slchistoryscramble

Causes of World War II :
http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/isthistory

Another one on causes of World War II:
http://wallwisher.com/wall/matthewj

And yet another one on the very popular World War II:
http://wallwisher.com/wall/SvqmKEV00p

This is a good example one for English teachers :
http://wallwisher.com/embed/vocabulary

A resources page of links to material that might be useful for English as Second Language Teachers:
http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/teachersweb20

Wall Wisher is 100% Free, easy to use, and lots of fun.

Enjoy,
Big Passy Wasabi