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SigMT Vol 11 Iss 3

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SiG MT 65 educators around the world to help make mathematics learning more memorable through research projects, technology, and outside-the-box conceptualization methods. Dave's Fulbright travels have taken him to places like the University of Pretoria in South Africa, where he worked and studied alongside local scholars to help educators identify and formulate their own goals for their developing university system. "My job is to seed the teachers' thinking," he explains. "We're not trying to clone U.S. universities. We want them to dream into what it means for them and what it looks like." "I fell in love with Africa," Dave says with genuine passion. "e dust of Africa is in my veins, and I can't wait for my next fix." He also spent time working with educators in Botswana before the Fulbright program sent him to Kathmandu, Nepal in January of 2017. While in Nepal, Dave presented one of his most intriguing workshops, Finding the Equation of a Banana, for the first time. "I was more interested in showing them the technology and opening their eyes to see parabolas in the world around them," he explained. "We should use mathematics to solve problems that maer, using everything available to do it." Instead of focusing only on the traditional paper-and-pencil longhand method of finding the equation of a parabola, Dave introduced students and educators to "Geogebra," a free modeling application that allows users to overlay coordinate axes with an image. He began by using a photo of a banana – a commonplace Nepalian treat. As he unveiled the process piece-by-piece, he invited his nervous, hesitant students to the front of the classroom to manipulate the program and find the solution to the equation. As they maneuvered a series of three dots over the image of the banana, two things occurred. First, the students effectively utilized technology to quickly and simply solve a mathematical problem. But perhaps even more importantly, they smiled. Seizing the opportunity, Dave asked students to think about what other images they could photograph with their cell phones to use with the Geogebra program. His classroom was suddenly engaged, exploring ideas, and talking about math as it applied to the real world. Dave has replicated the positive response to Finding the Equation of a Banana many times since, and is looking forward to sharing his presentation again in September, when the U.S. State Department sends him to Ethiopia as an Ambassador's Distinguished Scholar. He will be one of 60 American educators working in tandem with faculty at two Ethiopian universities as they conceptualize and structure their own programs for training their country's educators. "ey're going to see the embodiment of their target. A mix of men and women and different races and religions," Dave says. "We get to inspire that vision and commitment, and the Ethiopian teacher leaders will serve their nation in a way no one else can." "It's like a bicycle that you ride while you're inventing it, and it's also on fire," he explains with a laugh. "I've had an extraordinary ride." Call Tim today: 406.788.3741 or visit wilkinsonhomes.com B uilding Dreams one view at a time Great Falls i SOLD LOT 11 LOT 12 LOT 13 LOT 14 LOT 15 LOT 16 Celebrate Wilkinson Construction's 1,000,000 square foot of quality building since 1956 by visiting our 2018 Parade of Home entry September 29 & 30th. SOLD New contemporary home available for sale October 1. S MT Holly Matkin and her family live on a cattle and elk ranch south of Havre. You can find more about her love of rural life at www.enjoyingmontanalife.com.

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