Televisions > Learning Mathematics May Have Become a Little Easier

Learning Mathematics May Have Become a Little Easier

(ContentDesk) February 8, 2006 -- The Los Angeles Times recent series of stories on education pointed out the difficulties schools have in preparing all students, particularly in mathematics. California resident, and ex-teacher of the year, Guillermo Mendieta, has just written a book that could help make the teaching and learning of mathematics a little easier and more engaging. Pictorial Mathematics: An Engaging Visual Approach to the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics uses pictorial representations for each of the major concepts in school mathematics to support the development of conceptual understanding. Have you ever wondered why mathematics is such a difficult subject for so many students? Do you remember the way your teachers tried to teach you how to multiply two mixed fractions such as 4 ? x 1 ?? Most of us were taught to follow the following steps:????Change the 4 and ? to an improper fraction. To do so, multiply the whole number (4) by the denominator (2) and add it to the numerator (1).

This gives us 4 x 2 + 1 = 9. This is the new numerator (9) of your first fraction. Keep the same denominator (2). Thus, the new fraction is 9/2.????Now change the 1 ? to an improper fraction. Multiply the whole number (1) by the denominator (2) and add it to its numerator (1).

This gives us 1 x 2 + 1 = 3. Thus, (3) is the new numerator of the second fraction. Keep the same denominator (2).
Thus, the new fraction is 3/2.????Multiply the numerators, then multiply the denominators. Your new fraction is 27/4.????Is the numerator greater than the denominator? If yes, continue with the next step, otherwise, simply reduce the fraction.

In our example, the numerator (27) is larger than the denominator (4), so we go to the next step.????Since the numerator is larger than the denominator, divide the numerator (27) by the denominator (4). That gives us a quotient of 6, remainder 3. ????Your final answer, a mixed number, has the quotient (6) as the whole number, the remainder (3) as the numerator and the dividend (4) as the denominator. Thus, your final answer is 6 and ?.This procedural, symbolic or abstract representation of the procedure to multiply mixed fractions made very little sense to me and to my classmates. It did not help us understand what multiplying two fractions meant.

You either memorized the steps in the right order, or you did not get the right answer. But whether you got the right or the wrong answer, this way of representing the process of multiplying mixed fractions did little to promote conceptual understanding.Pictorial Mathematics: An Engaging Visual Approach to the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics (ISBN, 0-9773212-8-2, $34.95, 400pp.) is designed to help make the teaching and learning of mathematics more meaningful and engaging. It provides a bridge between the abstract and the concrete approaches to teaching mathematics. This is what K.C. Cole, the award winning former Los Angeles Times science writer and author of The Universe and the Teacup had to say about Pictorial Mathematics: You've done math teachers (and students) a great service with this book.

It shows teachers ways to convey deep (and cool) concepts even while working under the "tyranny of tests." It's lively, concise, reader-friendly and fun. I'm very impressed.We live in a very visual generation. From streaming videos, to high definition televisions, and MTV, our students are naturally attracted to and engaged by visual approaches to information. Pictorial Mathematics adds a new visual dimension to how students and teachers can think about mathematical concepts.
There is a reason for the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words, Mendieta says.

The appropriate visual can not only convey a lot more information in less space and time, it can provide many more contextual clues to help the learner decipher the intended meaning of the information. Pictorial Mathematics provides teachers and students with over 1,000 visually engaging models, exercises and templates that bring meaning and active learning strategies to the teaching and learning of mathematics. For more information about the book, including previews, testimonials, and how to order a copy from the publisher, Meaning Learning Press, visit the books web site at www.PictorialMath.com. The book is available for online purchase now, and it will be available in March through Amazon.com. Meaningful Learning PressP.O. Box 448-CEtiwanda, CA 91739Contact:Meaningful LearningTel: (909) 730-7312Fax: (909) 854-5858Website: PictorialMath.com.

What?s the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?

Plasma and LCD TVs are the latest trend in home entertainment. Both offer unrivalled picture quality and resolution, while doing away with the bulkiness of the older rear-projection technologies. But with all of the hype surrounding these two types of televisions, what is the difference between them? Although they look- and are virtually priced- the same, they are not.There differences are found in the way in which they display their pictures. Plasma TV technology is made up of hundreds of thousands of little pixels, each capable of displaying red, green, and blue colors. A plasma monitor often consists of two panels, which are filled with an inert gas, such as xenon or neon.

When the pixels are excited by pulses of electricity, the gas becomes liquid, thus generating light. This light in turn then illuminates the pixels, causing them to display the appropriate color to form a picture. LCD panels function in a very similar manner. A panel of thin-film-transmitters, or TFT, sends...

What?s the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?

Televisions > What?s the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?

What?s the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?

What?s the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?

Televisions > What?s the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?

Bigger, Better, Ecycling Event in Birmingham

Birmingham, AL (ContentDesk) March 22, 2006 -- Building on last years phenomenal success, TechBirmingham Ecycling Day returns for its second year. The successful 2005 event resulted in over 75 tons of equipment being diverted from Alabamas landfills. TechBirmingham expects the 2006 event to be even bigger and better.Beginning immediately, corporations across central Alabama wishing to contribute equipment may visit EcyclingDay.org and complete an online Corporate Pledge form. Companies can allow 1-800-Got-Junk? to come collect the items in advance of the public drop-off day OR deliver their equipment to the Alabama Computer Disposal Group warehouse. There is no charge for this service, but companies are encouraged to make a small per-item donation to TechBirmingham to offset costs of running the public event.The public is invited to start setting aside their unused electronics items today for recycling on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2006.

Residents from across the Birmingham...

Bigger, Better, Ecycling Event in Birmingham

Televisions > Bigger, Better, Ecycling Event in Birmingham

AVP Watch & Win: Watch Pro Beach Volleyball Live on NBC for a Chance to Win One of Five 42? Plasma TVs

(ContentDesk) June 30, 2005 -- The 2005 AVP Championship Series is LIVE on NBC and Viewers will have multiple chances to win one of five 42" Enhanced Definition Plasma Televisions.
Log on to http://AVP.com for contest details.The Watch & Win contest starts Saturday July 2nd when NBC will televise LIVE coverage of the AVP Cincinnati Open presented by Liftoff at 4:30pm EST.
To enter simply watch the LIVE coverage and then log on to AVP.com to answer a few questions on the match that just aired.
Questions will be posted on AVP.com at 10am EST on Saturday July 2nd.The winner will be determined by the most questions answered correctly.
In case of a tie, a random drawing will determine the winner.

Log on to AVP.com for full contest details and official rules.LIVE coverage will continue from Cincinnati on Sunday July 3rd at 4:30pm EST on NBC and give viewers a second chance to win one of five 42" Plasma...

AVP Watch & Win: Watch Pro Beach Volleyball Live on NBC for a Chance to Win One of Five 42? Plasma TVs

Televisions > AVP Watch & Win: Watch Pro Beach Volleyball Live on NBC for a Chance to Win One of Five 42? Plasma TVs