New learning materials for Math Students
The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper recently announced a new mathematical initiative to help students and teachers in Years 7 and 8, with further development in High School Mathematics.
In this instance, Utah Middle School Math is not a traditional hardbound textbook. Rather, it is a series of “chapters” that can be downloaded, free of charge, by any teacher, student or parent onto any computer or device. Users can use the chapters interactively online, print them out or purchase them in a softbound workbook format for $2.69. The Utah Legislature funded the project to develop Utah Middle School Math. While the U. is in the lead, educators from other colleges and universities as well as middle schools also are involved.
A separate program to develop a text and accompanying materials for high schools, the Mathematics Vision Project, also involves Utah educators from higher education and public schools.
The MVP classroom experience begins by confronting students with an engaging problem and then allows them to grapple with solving it. As students’ ideas emerge, take form, and are shared, the teacher orchestrates the student discussions and explorations towards a focused mathematical goal.