From the Editor’s Laptop
OK, I’ll admit it. I didn’t know who Steven Strogatz was when I first ran into his name in connection with this fall’s conference, so I did what anyone would do and googled his name. Apparently, not only is he a mathematician and scientist, he is also a writer—for the New York Times. He is an opinionater. I currently have a to-do list of 52 items, but I had to take the time to read “Visualizing Vastness.” It is the best explanation as to why scientific notation is important. Also, I now know that if I ever get to Ithaca, New York, I shall have to take a nice walk through the commons. To find out why, head to http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/me-myself-and-math/.
But of course I couldn’t stop there. I pressed the link and bam—“It’s My Birthday Too, Yeah.” How many people do you need in a room before the odds of two of them sharing a birthday becomes fifty-fifty? Most of us can probably solve this, but it has gained some notoriety for its position on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” (also had to google that—it’s from before my time) when Carson posed the problem but erred in trying to discover the solution. Again we get a great oratory as Strogatz explains the error and the solution. I can’t wait to use this problem in my next counting principles class.
But my daughter has just wiped out and is crying, so I’d better not click on the next link. Now you know why I am looking forward to the conference. I can’t wait to hear from this orator in person.
Karen Bouwman
President’s Message
John Scammell
From the Editor’s Laptop
Karen Bouwman
Fall Symposium
PEC Report
Carol Henderson
Awards
Dr Arthur Jorgensen Chair Award
Math Educator of the Year
Conference 2015
“Geeks Unite”
Request for Lesson Plans
