21st Century Math Projects can now be found with Clark Creative Education

In April 2014, 21st Century Math Projects resources and this domain were sold to an EdTech company. In 2017, most of the brands and assets were reacquired by a team including the original author where they've expanded to K-12 education in all subject areas. 

Learn more at Clark Creative Education

www.clarkcreativeeducation.com

21st Century Math Projects Philosophy

Many people have asked for some advice to develop their own 21st Century Math Projects so I thought I'd

Check out some stuff!

try to articulate what I try to do to help with your own project planning!

I believe that three key elements need to be in place for a super strong math project or lesson. Real World Authenticity, Mathematical Rigor and 21st Century Swagg. If there is a hearty balance of these three things in my experience that's when I bring the learning to the next level. A traditional classroom would fall into the Mathematical Rigor category, but lacks Real World Relevancy or 21st Century Swagg. 

Having students design a car on a computer, without a solid math foundation (or for an appropriate grade level) is a prime example of Real World Authenticity absent Mathematical Rigor or 21st Century Swagg. 

21st Century Swagg Personified!

A lack of 21st Century Swagg may be the product of using a blurry ditto from 1981. Presentation matters. The look of the assignment matters. Humor, if possible, matters. Student interest matters! I can't count how many problems I use from textbooks that start with "In 1991". Most of my students this year were born in 1998. While what happened in 1991 may be important, there are also important things that happened in 2011 that textbook companies just can't keep up with.

Of course there is not necessarily an Authentic Real World project for each math topic you teach. That doesn't mean it's impossible to make one. You just may need to up the dosage of Mathematical Rigor or 21st Century Swagg. My popular CSI projects are examples of this. With the engaging CSI puzzle solving framework (extra 21st Century Swagg) and Mathematical Rigor, a project for any topic is possible. Of course there are Authentic Real World problems in these puzzles, but perhaps nothing meaty enough to expand to a full-blown project. 

I would argue you can't do without any of these ideas. Many might say you can cut out the 21st Century Swagg. Perhaps that's possible, but if student interest isn't there, student engagement may not be. 

Real World Authenticity -- Mathematical Rigor -- 21st Century Swagg. Your might be your new bff. Or it might not be. Go make cool stuff for your kids!

Choose Your Own Adventure vs. STEM-ersion vs. Both

Alright Math Friends!

I have launched two new worksheet concepts that will cover ordinary topics, but they will have their own unique flairs! You can download both for free. Please vote in the poll on the right. The one that has more interest I will probably run with!

Click Me First!

Noooo! Me first!

Choose Your Own Adventure -- Would you want more?

Here's a link to one of my latest brainstorms. I have to decide if I'm going to make a bunch of them. If any of you have a chance to take a look, let me know what you think! Thanks!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-Solving-Two-Step-Equations-India-1030394

January is setting up to be a big month with a lot of uploads. Stay Tuned! :-)

21st Century Math Projects Goes to Hong Kong

Greetings loyal readers!

I have a great opportunity to present at an education leadership conference and visit a school in Hong Kong! I'll be mostly off the grid until Monday the 12th so hold all those questions til I get back :-)

Bringing Global Issues into the Classroom

Hey all! Today we have a special follow-up to an early blog post. Lisa Glenn from New Global Citizens has stopped by with a guest spot! New Global Citizens is a great way to connect classrooms or small groups internationally! So without further ado...

Bringing Global Issues into the Classroom

By: Lisa Glenn, New Global Citizens Program of Director

75% of hiring managers agree students who understand other countries and cultures will be more successful than those who do not (2012 Education Exploration Survey).

Fortunately, we know that students love to learn about other countries and cultures. But considering the amount of time it takes to develop resources for the classroom, it can be near to impossible. Even the most basic resources must align to Common Core, meet district and state scopes or school requirements and be a “good fit” for individual student needs. Again, this can be near to impossible when also considering the time it takes to do research on global issues, determine how to implement these issues within existing curriculum, and create brand new lesson plans.

Or so it was.

After providing a free afterschool program with student resources to explore global issues for five years, New Global Citizens now offers teacher curriculum and professional development resources that help teachers use the lens of global issues within the scope of existing requirements and curricula.

Ok, great, but why does this matter to a math teacher? Because increasing exposure to global issues within traditional subject areas, such as math or science, is just plain “good teaching,” and NGC is here to help! In the 2013-2014 school year, NGC will be releasing STEM curriculum and resources for teachers who would like to increase exposure to global issues within the science or math classroom, in addition to NGC’s existing humanities curriculum.

Now, instead of simply teaching graphing, students can learn first about the spread of epidemics within the population, and then learn graphing skills by using current data points from international sources, which will give students a clearer picture of both the global issue and the importance of graphing skills in the real world. This depth of learning is important because it moves our students from skill mastery by completing rote tasks to skill mastery by real-world application.

But just knowing about global issues is not enough to make students successful global citizens. Students must take that knowledge and put it into action. This is where New Global Citizens’ successful after school advocacy work really comes into play.

Students using NGC curriculum can take what they have learned about epidemics and partner with an NGC Global Project to advocate for change around their chosen epidemic. So, instead of taking that graph that they made, handing it in, and completing the lesson, students can publish and continue to use the deliverable that they created for advocacy around global epidemics.

Imagine students creating a polished graph and then tweeting it out in support of an organization like Hlomelikusasa, an NGO that supports orphans and vulnerable children left behind by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Students could also create a multimedia presentation to explain the effects of the epidemic on the affected region to present to local leaders or community members. Students can even raise funds to support the work of a Global Partner, and as a result develop budgeting and planning skills.

By adding advocacy to global issues curriculum, students can see their classroom learning is immediately connected to existing efforts for change in the global community.  

For more information on how to get involved with New Global Citizens, visit our site or email Lisa Glenn, Director of Program, at lisa@newglobalcitizens.org. 

CSI: Algebra Second Edition Now LIVE

If you have downloaded an Electronic Book that looks like this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Please go redownload it! (There is a SURPRISE IN THE ZIP FILE)

What I realized now that I'm most of the way through my 4 CSI book is that I've gotten a lot better at certain things. CSI: Algebra was my first born and he deserved the same treatment all of my new babies have received so I went through a upgraded every single page. More color. More pictures. Reordered problems. Adjusted answer choices. Better tables. More alignment. You name it. I did it. 

Redownloading is free. Just visit your "My Purchases" tab on TPT redownload it! Get your surprise project and have a much better file! 

Get the Interactive & Customizable Version of CSI: Algebra at NextLesson.org