LibGuides: Mathematics: DVD, Websites, etc.

DVDs in the Library Catalog

Algebra : solving, simplifying and slope by Light Speed Video
Call Number: DVD QA152.3.A564 2010
Publication Date: 2010
The algebra 2 tutor. Graphing equations by Jason Gibson
Call Number: DVD QA219.A44 2010
Publication Date: 2010
A Beautiful Mind by Brian Grazer
Call Number: DVD PN1997.B4383 2002
Publication Date: 2001
Between the folds [videodisc] : a film about finding inspiration in unexpected places by Vanessa Gould Origami may seem an unlikely medium for understanding and explaining the world. But around the globe, several fine artists and theoretical scientists are abandoning more conventional career paths to forge lives as modern-day paper folders. Through origami, these offbeat and provocative minds are reshaping ideas of creativity and revealing the relationship between art and science. This film chronicles 10 of their stories: three of the world's foremost origami artists, less conventional artists, abstract artists, advanced mathematicians and a remarkable scientist who received a MacArthur Genius Award for his computational origami research. While debates ebb and flow on issues of folding technique, symbolism and purpose, this film shows how closely art and science are intertwined. The medium of paper folding--a simple blank, uncut square--emerges as a metaphor for the creative potential of transformation in all of us.
Call Number: DVD TT870.B48 2009
ISBN: 9781608831265
Publication Date: 2009
Bill Nye's Solving for X. Algebra, Volume 1 : Variables, balancing equations, dimensional analysis & linear equations by Bill Nye
Call Number: DVD QA155.15.B55 2009
Publication Date: 2009
Bill Nye's Solving for X. Pre-algebra, Volume 1 : Infinite fractions, exponents, signed numbers & proportional reasoning by Bill Nye
Call Number: DVD QA155.15.B554 2009
Publication Date: 2009
The great math mystery by Daniel McCabe Astrophysicist Mario Livio, along with a colorful cast of mathematicians, physicists, and engineers, follow math from Pythagoras to Einstein and beyond, all leading to the ultimate riddle: Is math an invention or a discovery? Humankind's clever trick, or the language of the universe? Join Nova for a mathematical mystery tour, a provocative exploration of math's astonishing power across the centuries.
Call Number: DVD QA8.4 .G74 2015
ISBN: 9781627893107
Publication Date: 2015
The origami revolution: discover how scientists are using origami to transform our world by Sarah Holt Origami, the century old tradition of paper folding is now at the heart of a scientific revolution. Scientists are discovering that folding is a powerful tool to explore the limits of science. Engineers and designers are now adopting origami designs to conquer space or reshape the world around us. From aircraft design to protein folding to micro-robots, join NOVA to discover how the age-old art of origami is transforming our world.
Call Number: DVD TT872.5 .O74 2017
ISBN: 9781531700133
Publication Date: 2017
The pre-algebra tutor by Jason Gibson
Call Number: DVD QA157.P74 2010
Publication Date: 2010
Vol. 1: 2 discs
Vol. 2: 3 discs
Top secret Rosies: the female computers of World War II by LeAnn Erickson
Call Number: DVD QA27.5.T67 2010
Publication Date: 2010

Websites

Algebra Basics
AMSER: Applied Math and Science Education Repository
from the National Science Foundation
AMS for Students
Association for Women in Mathematics Mathematics students, educators, and researchers of all genders may be interested in the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). Founded in 1971 and based in Providence, Rhode Island, this nonprofit organization "is focused on understanding the [career] pipeline for women in mathematics" and notes that "[d]iverse perspectives are necessary to solve complex problems in ethical ways that benefit all groups." On its website, AWM provides links to a number of resources organized by target audience. For example, readers interested in the general state of women in mathematics should visit On Women in Math, where they will find statistics and reports on this topic, as well as profiles of women mathematicians. There are also a variety of teaching and learning resources for K-12 educators and students, AWM's mentor network and funding opportunities for students and academics at the undergraduate level and beyond, and information on career paths in mathematics. Additionally, AWM co-sponsors an annual student essay contest (found under the programs tab) that focuses on "contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers." Under the publications tab, AWM provides PDFs of its bimonthly newsletters, which feature articles, book reviews, upcoming events, and job announcements from a range of institutions.
The Birthday Paradox Experiment How many people do you need to gather in order to find two individuals with the same birthday? Most people who asked this question tend to answer with a number that is much too high. The phenomenon is known as the "birthday paradox." Russell Goldenberg of The Pudding has created this interactive experiment designed to help visitors understand the math behind the birthday paradox. In this experiment, visitors are invited to share their birthday month and date. Next, they have the opportunity to see how previous visitors answered the question. In doing so, visitors can see the "birthday paradox" in action. As visitors view how an increasing number of participants answered the question, they will view an accompanying graph that demonstrates the law of large numbers. Visitors who enjoy this interactive will want to check out other projects included in The Pudding's Essays About Explainers.
Byrne's Euclid Euclid's Elements has been the standard in geometry textbooks for millennia, with hundreds of editions published since the ancient Greek mathematician created it at around the year 300 BCE. One edition was particularly noteworthy for its technological innovation: Oliver Byrne's 1847 edition, which stood out for its cutting-edge use of multiple colors in its diagrams rather than traditionally written labels, lending it an artistic quality as well as making the ideas easier to understand. Now, Byrne's Euclid has entered the digital era thanks to Chicago-based web designer and artist Nicholas Rougeux, who recreated Byrne's edition as an interactive website. Launched in December 2018, this project faithfully reproduces Byrne's version of Elements in its entirety, including its color scheme, graphics, and typography. Here, visitors can view all six books of Byrne's edition as well as its introduction and glossary of symbols, which Rougeux has enhanced with clickable shapes to help illustrate the ideas being discussed as well as links to cross-references within the text. Those interested in the background of this project should visit its about page, where they will find a short summary and a link to a lengthy blog post explaining how Rougeux created this site.
Celebratio Mathematica Math educators and aficionados may be interested in Celebratio Mathematica, an open-access digital publication that "celebrates mathematics and related fields, and their people." Visitors to this project will find extensive information on the lives and work of nearly thirty noteworthy mathematicians (as of this write-up), with each person's entry organized into an "enhanced guide to [their] collected works." These digital volumes include such figures as David Blackwell, "an eminent statistician who specialized in probability and game theory," and Emmy Noether, a pioneer in abstract algebra and the namesake of several influential concepts. Each volume contains a collection of biographical narratives (sometimes in the mathematician's own words), a bibliography of their published work, commentaries by other mathematicians on the significance of their work, information on their graduate students, and more. For anyone curious about the careers of prominent twentieth-century mathematicians, this project is a valuable resource. Celebratio Mathematica was conceived by Robion C. Kirby and James W. Pitman, both professors of mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley and published by MSP (Mathematical Sciences Publishers), a nonprofit scholarly publisher.
Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications
ENC Learning Inc.
Lesson plans & classroom topics
Estimation 180 As mathematics teacher and learning coach Andrew Stadel explains, problems can help mathematicians develop their number sense and problem solving skills. Stadel has created Estimation 180, a compilation of classroom activities and lesson plans that center on the skill of estimation. The name of the site comes from the 180 short estimation problems (one for each day of the school year) that are at the center of this project. Each of these problems include a picture accompanied by an estimation problem (e.g. How many sheets of paper are in this box?). Students or classrooms are invited to fill out a Google Form with their estimate and reasoning and explore other responses (along with the correct answer.) These problems offer a useful series of anticipatory sets for elementary school classrooms. In addition, mathematics teachers may want to check out the Clothesline Activities and the Lessons sections for some more ready-to-use classroom materials.
Expii
...an interactive series of math and science textbooks
GCF LearnFree.org: Math Goodwill Industries and the Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF) offers this series of free online tutorials related to math skills including basic operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, and basic algebra. These resources may especially appeal to teachers and tutors who work with elementary and middle school level students as well as Adult Basic Education (ABE) learners. Each tutorial uses words and pictures to explain the concepts behind each math skill. Next, learners are invited to try out some practice problems and take an assessment to test their skills. As GCF notes, these tutorials are, "designed to be like a math workbook, so you can practice what you learn directly from the lessons and learn at your own pace." As a result, these tutorials may be especially helpful for instructors who teach in multi-level adult education classrooms or library media centers.
Good Calculators Whether you are participating in a mathematics course or calculating your taxes, you need access to a good calculator. Fortunately, calculators have become increasingly available via websites and free applications. This website is dedicated to providing a reliable collection of freely available calculators "for domestic and commercial use." The majority of these calculators have been developed by the team behind this website, who describe themselves as "fervent IT professionals." Visitors can browse these calculators by category, which include engineering calculators, statistics and analysis calculators, and budget calculators.
How Much Does Kid Cudi Hum? One thing is clear: Grammy award-winning artist Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, known by his stage name Kid Cudi, loves to hum. In proving this point, Connor Rothschild's project flexes coding, data analysis, and statistics skills. Hip-hop fans will appreciate the project for its discography analysis, but even those less familiar with Kid Cudi's music can benefit from the methodology and apply it to a passion project of choice. In other words, here is proof that calculations can be creative, too. At the link above, viewers can explore findings that measure concentrations of humming, show the evolution of Cudi's humming over time, and dive into statistics by track and album. Among other options, users will discover what proportion of Kid Cudi's songs are made up of hums (notably, only 53 of the 226 of Cudi's songs on Genius omitted humming entirely). The project also reveals Cudi's preference for starting and ending his tracks with humming. Notes on Rothschild's research and coding process are available at the conclusion of the piece.
Interactivate Interactivate is a website created and maintained by Shodor, a North Carolina-based non-profit organization dedicated to developing resources that help students engage with computational science. Interactivate contains dozens of interactive online activities to aid in mathematics instruction. Activities include interactive probability games, graphing tools, and statistical analysis. Mathematics instructors can search for interactive courseware by subject (including fractions, statistics, algebra, and calculus) or by student grade level. Resources are available for instructors teaching all levels of mathematics; activities range from those that can be used in a 3rd grade classroom all the way up to activities for the undergraduate college classroom. While much of this resource consists of stand-alone activities, Interactivate also provides numerous detailed lesson plans that allow instructors to integrate courseware into their curriculum with ease. The website also identifies how each activity aligns with a number of national mathematics education standards, including the Common Core.
The Learning Kaleidoscope Mathematics teachers and tutors, especially those who work with students with special needs, may be interested in the Learning Kaleidoscope. Authored by Andrew Gael, who teaches mathematics at a K-12 school designed for students with disabilities, this blog is designed to share instructional techniques and build community amongst math teachers. Teachers may want to start by checking out the Tasks & Instructional Routines tab, which features hands-on-activities designed to engage students in math concepts. One highlight of this collection is a shopping activity related to financial literacy. Under the #SwDMathChat (Students with Disabilities Math Chat) tab, instructors can check out archived chats that took place between mathematics teachers on Twitter. Each conversation centers on a different topic related to teaching math to students with disabilities, including collaboration with general education teachers and neurodiversity. Those interested in following Andrew Gael on Twitter and participating in future math chats can find him at @bkdidact.
MAA: Living Proof: Stories of Resilience Along the Mathematical Journey For some, the thought of calculating derivatives or identifying isosceles triangles brings on a surge of joy, for others, a surge of dread. Regardless of whether or not you identify as a "math person," Living Proof: Stories of Resilience Along the Mathematical Journey is on a mission to disprove such labels, suggesting that "mathematical thinking is a fundamental part of every human's intellectual capacity." The book was published in 2019 by the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America and is accessible in downloadable PDF form at the link above. Living Proof exists to showcase that "the ability to succeed in a mathematical program should not be hindered by a person's gender, race, sexuality, upbringing, culture, socio-economic status, educational background, or any other attribute." Throughout its four sections, professors, field consultants, and mathematicians share stories of success and struggle, with the hope of both celebrating and continuing to cultivate diversity in the field. They also provide insights on the wide range of mathematical careers available. The book was edited by Allison K. Henrich (Seattle University), Emille D. Lawrence (University of San Francisco), Matthew A. Pons (North Central College), and David G. Taylor (Roanoke College).
MAA: Problems from Another Time The study of mathematics has a long and varied history spanning continents and centuries. Instructors might like to draw upon the field's rich and diverse legacy to nudge their students' imaginations and help them understand why various techniques were developed. Problems from Another Time provide readers with a large, outstanding collection of educational resources that present and discuss specific math problems from a historical context. The exercises and articles that include historical problem sets are published in Convergence, one of the many excellent online resources from the Mathematical Association of America. Offered in order of publication, examples include ancient Indian rope geometry, using Sudoku puzzles to understand Al-Maghribi's Mecca Problem, and a project on computing determinants based on a paper by mathematician Charles Dodgson (also known as Lewis Carroll of Alice in Wonderland fame). Most of the resources in this collection include images, in addition to materials such as illustrative applets, downloadable worksheets, or LaTeX files. Topics range widely and are largely aimed at mathematics educators of grades 8 through 12.
MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive
from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland
Math-Drills.com
Mathematical Moments From the American Mathematical Society comes Mathematical Moments, a series of posters created "to promote appreciation and understanding of the role mathematics plays in science, nature, technology, and human culture." Readers will find well over one hundred posters, each downloadable as a one-page PDF, on the important role math plays in topics such as movie streaming services like Netflix, how the patterns in seashells form, and Major League baseball analytics. Each Mathematical Moments poster is accompanied by a link to a related web resource, and many of the more recent posters also have available podcast interviews with experts in the field. Some of the posters have been translated into other languages, and when browsing, readers may use a drop-down menu to search for posters in a particular language. Interested readers may subscribe via RSS feed to be notified of new posters being added.
Mathigon ...provides a series of free, interactive, online courses that are designed to complement 6th grade through college level mathematics instruction.
MATHmodels
Math Planet
mathsciencemusic.org
Math Study Skills
from Texas State U - San Marcos
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
New Jersey Center for Teaching & Learning: Course Materials The New Jersey Center for Teaching & Learning is a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 STEM education. On the organization's course materials page, educators will find a number of free resources for teaching math and science. These resources, which were designed by a team of STEM educators, include presentations, homework assignments, lab activities, and assessments. This collection includes math and science resources in both English and Spanish, along with a few English-language resources in English language arts and computer science. Materials are organized by subject and grade level for easy browsing. Grade levels range from kindergarten to advanced high school, including resources for advanced placement calculus, physics, biology, and chemistry.
Nuffield Mathematics
PBS LearningMedia: Mathematics Math educators at many levels (as well as parents and students) may appreciate this extensive collection of teaching and learning resources provided by PBS LearningMedia. Here, readers will find thousands of videos, lesson plans, interactive features, and more, covering a wide range of mathematics topics. Shortcuts to several broad math subjects (for example, high school algebra and geometry) are prominently highlighted on the collection's main page, and visitors can easily filter the collection by grade level and resource type, with resources ranging from pre-K through high school and beyond. For example, filtering for fourth grade returns (as of this write-up) more than 400 videos, nearly 130 interactives, over 50 lesson plans, and much more. The search results display a short description of each resource as well as the grade levels it best suits, making it easy to scan for content that fits particular needs. Most resources also include a list of the educational standards with which they align. In addition to the Mathematics collection's filters, the search bar at the top enables visitors to explore the entire PBS LearningMedia site by keyword for resources on a specific topic as well.
Real World Math
Uses Google Earth
Reasoning and Sense-Making Task Library For high school mathematics teachers, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics offers this collection of activities to help young mathematicians develop their quantitative reasoning skills. These activities have been developed by high school and college mathematics educators and can be downloaded in PDF format from this online library. Each PDF features a detailed teacher's guide as well as a student hand out. In one activity, "Cash or Gas?" students consider whether it is better to receive $250,000 in cash in an imagined lottery or free gas for life. Another activity, "As the Crow Flies," is designed to help students understand the logic and reasoning behind the Pythagorean theorem. These activities can be implemented alongside existing mathematics curriculum as they align with Common Core Standards.
Science Friday: Explosion Math Both math and earth science educators may be interested in Explosion Math, a lesson plan provided by Science Friday's Educator Collaborative (featured in the 10-13-2017 Scout Report). In this standards-aligned lesson, which was written for middle and high school students, learners are challenged "to answer the age-old question of who would win between an Olympic sprinter, tortoise, car, you, and a volcano." Here, students use the slope-intercept form to calculate how much of a head start each subject would need to escape from two different volcanoes, Kilauea in Hawai'i and Fuego in Guatemala, both of which erupted in 2018. Along the way, students learn about (or review) the differences between shield and stratovolcanoes and their respective types of flows and reflect on the real-world implications of this scenario. This lesson is designed to take one to two hours to complete and includes multiple illustrative images and GIFs, as well as downloadable handouts and slides. Explosion Math was written by Brian Soash, Science Friday's Educator Community Leader and a former middle school math and science teacher.
Shodor Foundation
Sports Analytics for Students Who would have thought strike zones and statistics make the perfect pair? Inspired by a sports analytics conference, University School of Nashville educator Joel Bezaire is making his case for connections between math and sports organizations with his aptly titled curriculum "Sports Analytics For Students." Math educators in search of a fun way to wrap-up the school year and caregivers looking for ways to keep their teenagers academically engaged during the summer months will find this nearly 100-page packet provides plenty of options to do just that. The packet is freely downloadable in PDF form and contains lesson plans, worksheets, and activities, which are categorized by topic into six chapters and four appendices. Many activities use specific sports teams as a launching point for a statistics lesson, and pop-culture references are sprinkled throughout, adding to the materials' engaging tone. The curriculum was created in 2018 and is geared towards middle and high school students. Though designed as a week-long "summer camp," Bezaire notes that the materials can easily be converted into individual lesson plans. Readers who enjoy this work may also want to check out the rest of Bezaire's blog dedicated to pre-algebra resources.
Statistics in Schools: Geography Activities STATISTICS IN SCHOOLS: GEOGRAPHY ACTIVITIES SOCIAL STUDIES www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/activities/geography.html The US Census Bureau provides access to a staggering amount of data that can be used to create "detailed portraits of the changing characteristics of [American] communities," but for the uninitiated, interpreting that data can be a challenge. To help address this difficulty, the Census Bureaus Statistics in Schools (SIS) program has created this collection of classroom geography activities designed to supplement the standard curriculum while providing useful learning tools related to real life data. Here, readers will find detailed, well-developed activity plans for students in grades 4-12, broadly grouped into grade level appropriate topics: elementary (e.g. "Examining Changes to the Environment Through Pictures and Data"), middle school (e.g. "What role does Geography Play in the Census?"), and high school (e.g. "Analyzing Correlations of Education and Income"). Individual activities indicate the specific grade level(s) they are intended for, and each gives a description, states the time and materials required, and also provides a list of learning objectives and a Bloom's Taxonomy teacher's note. Each lesson includes downloadable PDFs of teacher and student versions of the activity.
Statistics in Schools: History Activities From the U.S. Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools (SIS) program comes this collection of classroom history and social studies activities intended to "supplement the standard curriculum while providing useful learning tools related to real life data." This collection features well-developed activity plans for K-12 students, each focused on a specific topic. Activities are broadly grouped into grade-level appropriate subjects: elementary grades (e.g. "Jamestown - Factors Affecting Population Change, 1630-1700"), middle school (e.g. "Where Should I Live? Using U.S. Census Bureau Data to Make Decisions"), and high school (e.g. "19th Century Immigration - Causes & Effects"). The webpage for each activity gives a description, states the time and materials required, and provides a list of learning objectives. Some activities also take advantage of the Census Bureau's interactive digital tools, such as QuickFacts. Each lesson includes attractively designed and downloadable PDFs of teacher and student versions of the activity. [JDC]
Statistics in Schools: Math Activities From the US Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools (SIS) program comes this collection of classroom math activities designed to "engage students by using real-life data." Here, readers will find detailed, well-developed activity plans for K-12 students, each focused on a specific topic. Activities are broadly grouped into grade-level appropriate subjects: elementary grades (e.g. "Using Fractions to Compare Amusements Parks By States"), middle school (e.g. "What is a Statistical Question?"), and high school (e.g. "Applying Correlation Coefficients - Educational Attainment and Unemployment"). Individual activities indicate the specific grade level(s) they are intended for. The webpage for each activity gives a description, states the time and materials required, and also provides a list of learning objectives and a Bloom's Taxonomy teacher's note. Each lesson also includes attractively designed and downloadable PDFs of a teacher and student version of the activity. The SIS Math Activities were created by "eight content teams comprising of teachers, subject matter experts, and standards experts in K-12 education and curriculum design," and they are designed to reflect Common Core standards.
Teach Engineering: Algebra
Thinking Mathematics! A Resource for Teachers and Students James Tanton's website offers a number of resources for math teachers, including instructional videos, puzzles, essays, and more. Tanton is a mathematics scholar who has taught high school and college students and authored a number of instructional resources. Visitors will find free material in the Think cool math! and Think curriculum! sections. These materials are designed to facilitate student engagement in mathematics inquiry and the central concepts behind mathematical patterns. For example, in the lesson, "Divisibility Rules Galore," visitors will find a series of helpful divisibility rules, accompanied by helpful explanations. In, "Surprising Fibonacci Appearances," visitors will find a series of puzzles and videos related to Fibonacci sequences. In the On Logarithms essay, Tanton writes about the history of logarithms and why the term is so confusing to mathematics students.
Underground Mathematics
We Use Math Perhaps readers have heard someone struggling with a math problem and grumbling, "When will I ever use this?" Perhaps, readers have said this themselves. We Use Math provides an answer (several answers, in fact). The site is a resource for mathematics educators and learners, and the content focuses on highlighting "careers in math" and "careers using math." A quick browse of either section makes it clear that math is foundational in a wide range of jobs. While some may be obvious (e.g., software engineers and data scientists), others may surprise readers. For example, those interested in a career that combines STEM subjects with various mediums can learn about math's role in animation, architecture, and urban planning. In addition to the career information, readers can stock up on relevant fun facts in the Math Tidbits section or explore additional content in the Blog section (including more great connections between math and multimedia, such as a link to a fascinating photo essay on the art within mathematics chalkboards). Educators will also want to check out the Resources for Teachers tab, which includes curriculum ideas, activities, classroom decor, and more. We Use Math is sponsored by Brigham Young University's Mathematics Department.
Which One Doesn't Belong? For mathematics instructors and tutors, math educator Mary Bourassa has created this collection of "thought-provoking puzzles for math teachers and students alike." Each of these puzzles presents learners with four items and asks students to identify and explain which item is the odd one out. However, these puzzles feature one notable twist on the "Which One Doesn't Belong" puzzle: every single item in each grouping could be considered the one that does not belong depending on what criteria learners chose to examine. As a result, these puzzles offer an opportunity for learners to engage in open inquiry and conversation about mathematical concepts. This collection features three kinds of groupings: shapes, numbers, and graphs & equations. As of this write-up, this collection includes over 150 puzzles. Visitors are invited to submit their own puzzles to add to this collection.
Women in Science and Mathematics
youcubed From Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, youcubed is a center dedicated to providing research-based resources for teaching mathematics. On its website, mathematics instructors will find a number of resources that may be of interest, including problem solving activities, lesson plans, teaching strategies, research papers, articles, and podcasts. Perhaps a good place to start is with Ideas & Tasks, where readers will find ideas for incorporating visual learning in the math classroom, strategies for facilitating group work, and reflections about how to conduct assessments in the math classroom. This section also includes recommended mathematics games and apps. Math teachers and math education researchers may be interested in the Resources section, which offers research articles on mathematics learning and growth mindset. Many of these resources are authored by Jo Boaler, co-founded of youcubed and professor of mathematics education at Stanford. There is also a section designed especially for parents.

Streaming Videos

Algebra Applications: Linear Functions
Algebra Applications: Variables and Equations
Building Mathematical Competencies in Early Childhood The mathematical skills children bring with them to elementary school predict both their mathematical and literacy achievement for years to come. In this video, experts from Erikson Institute’s Early Mathematics Education Project discuss approaches to creating rich, developmentally appropriate math experiences for young children. Lively footage from three pre-K classrooms in the Chicago public school system, a Head Start program on Chicago’s South Side, and a private preschool in a Chicago suburb illustrates how foundational math can be joyfully incorporated into both informal and planned activities. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (37 minutes)
Codebreakers: Bletchley Park’s Lost Heroes
The Great Math Mystery Astrophysicist Mario Livio, along with a colorful cast of mathematicians, physicists, and engineers, follow math from Pythagoras to Einstein and beyond, all leading to the ultimate riddle: Is math an invention or a discovery? Humankind's clever trick, or the language of the universe? Join NOVA for a mathematical mystery tour—a provocative exploration of math's astonishing power across the centuries.
Magic Numbers: Hannah Fry's Mysterious World of Math (3 parts) In this three-part series presented by Dr Hannah Fry, we will journey through the evolution of math from its philosophical origins to its status as a universal language and the foundation for all of science. We’ll meet the great thinkers whose breakthroughs have shaped the language of math, and with it our understanding of the world. As we travel from the past into the future, we’ll discover that this language is far from complete, as we search to answer one of science’s most profound questions: Where did Math come from – was it invented or simply discovered by humans.
The Math Code: Numbers
The Math Code: Prediction
The Math Code: Shapes
The Math Forum at NCTM
Numberphile This YouTube channel, courtesy of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the Simons Foundation Science Sandbox, describes its offerings as "videos about numbers - it's that simple." These videos come from Brady Haran, who also produced the popular Periodic Table of Videos series (see the 03-27-2009 Scout Report). Each episode of Numberphile varies in length, between just over a minute to about fifteen minutes, and includes quick brain teasers, hands on demonstrations, interviews, and short lessons. Videos also frequently feature guest scholars. Recent videos include an exploration of the links between the fields of mathematics and physics; an explanation of Godel's Incompleteness Theorem by Professor Marcus du Sautoy of the University of Oxford; and a brainteaser about how to fairly slice a cake. Some videos are organized into playlists for easy browsing, including Prime Numbers, Dice, and Fermat's Last Theorem.
PBS Learningmedia: Mathematics Math educators at many levels (as well as parents and students) may appreciate this extensive collection of teaching and learning resources provided by PBS LearningMedia. Here, readers will find thousands of videos, lesson plans, interactive features, and more, covering a wide range of mathematics topics. Shortcuts to several broad math subjects (for example, high school algebra and geometry) are prominently highlighted on the collection's main page, and visitors can easily filter the collection by grade level and resource type, with resources ranging from pre-K through high school and beyond. For example, filtering for 4th grade returns (as of this write-up) more than 400 videos, nearly 200 interactives, over 50 lesson plans, and much more. The search results display a short description of each resource as well as the grade levels it best suits, making it easy to scan for content that fits particular needs. Most resources also include a list of the educational standards with which they align. In addition to the Mathematics collection's filters, the search bar at the top enables visitors to explore the entire PBS LearningMedia site by keyword for resources on a specific topic as well.
Problem Strings: A Lesson Format for all Students Pamela Weber Harris is a former mathematics teacher who currently works as a mathematics education consultant and instructor of elementary math methods at Texas State University. Harris has also authored or co-authored several books about teaching math and appeared in a fascinating 2016 episode of Science Friday, "How Much Math Should Everyone Know? (Show Your Work)." In this 70 minute webinar, Harris demonstrates an instructional technique that she calls Problem Strings. In this method, math learners solve a series of problems collaboratively and use information and techniques from previous problems to help them solve new problems. The instructor, meanwhile, can use these problem strings to model new mathematical concepts and problem solving techniques. As Harris demonstrates, this teaching technique can be used for a variety of levels of mathematics, making this webinar of potential interest to both K-12 mathematics teachers and adult educators.
Socratica: Beautiful Science & Math For those who enjoy learning through videos, the YouTube channel Socratica creates free video courses on a variety of subjects with particular strength in STEM topics. Here, visitors will find well over one hundred concise, well-produced educational videos teaching diverse subjects that range from chemistry to Python tutorials to English grammar. Most videos are approximately five to ten minutes in length, but there are also several playlists that offer short glossaries featuring vocabulary for topics such as chemistry, art, and opera. Students in all disciplines may be interested in Socratica's series on study tips, where they offer advice on how to study effectively and efficiently. The videos on this channel are largely targeted for high school and college students, but anyone interested in their topics will find them valuable. Socratica also has a separate channel, Socratica Kids, where they publish videos intended for younger learners. Founded in 2013, Socratica is run by Kimberly Hatch Harrison, a professional educator with Masters in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, and Michael Harrison, a former software engineer with a Masters in Mathematics from the University of Washington.
Taking a Chance: Key Probability Concepts
Tecmath Visual learners may appreciate this YouTube channel that breaks down mathematics principles through digestible clips, examples, and animations. Hosted by math enthusiast Josh, Tecmath helps viewers tackle geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and more. Part of this "more" includes math magic tricks that are sure to impress (check out the I will read your mind! video posted in October of 2020). Plenty of other math problem-solving tricks are available, too. Though readers can browse the entire bevy of videos, the Playlists section serves as a useful filter. Here, readers can easily narrow by topic (e.g., "Math problems and puzzles" or "Fractions"). The content is a great learning tool for those currently enrolled in mathematics classes, but the videos are also a wonderful resource for those looking to refresh their knowledge. With manageable lengths (most videos are under 10 minutes) and thoughtful explanations, Tecmath is truly a treat. And, with more than 1 million subscribers, the message is clearly resonating with a wide audience.
TEDEd: Math in Real Life Series How do you evaluate a graph that you see in an advertisement or online? Why do airlines overbook their flights - and how do they decide how many tickets to sell per flight? Is there any strategy to the game of rock, paper, scissors? TED-Ed offers this engaging series of short videos about real-life applications of mathematics. As of this write-up, the series includes almost 90 videos. Some of these videos explore the unexpected ways that math is essential in art and everyday life (for example, in Pixar animations or Van Gogh's Starry Night). Other videos feature riddles for students to solve, followed by explanations of real-world application. And, one video explains the math behind online dating websites. Each video is accompanied by a multiple choice quiz (Think), additional information (Dig Deeper), and an open-ended discussion question (Discuss) to facilitate further student engagement.
TEDTalks: Conrad Wolfram—Teaching Kids Real Math with Computers
TEDTalks: Geoffrey West—The Surprising Math of Cities and Corporations
What Was Fermat's "Marvelous" Proof? If Fermat had a little more room in his margin, what proof would he have written there?
Worldwide Center for Math For mathematics instructors and students, the mathematics publishing company Worldwide Center for Math offers a number of instructional videos related to upper-level mathematics, including algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus. These videos are perhaps best browsed by playlist. One playlist, Think Thursday, features a series of short videos that present logic problems and brain teasers accompanied by a demonstration of how one might approach these problems. These short videos may especially appeal to mathematics instructors looking for warm-up activities. Other playlists include Musimathics: Music & Math; Basics: Proof; and the History of Greek Mathematics.

Blogs & Podcasts

The Accidental Mathematician Izabella Laba is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of British Columbia, where she researches harmonic analysis, geometric measure theory, and additive combinatorics. Thankfully, she also writes an excellent, readable blog, where the rest of us can peruse her thoughts on mathematics, gender, the academy, and whatever else happens to be on her unusually brilliant mind on any given day. Recent posts have taken on the dirty politics inherent to website comments sections, engaged a debate over social science terminology as applied to the examination of gender in the math community, and thought through how the internet and mass communications might impact the field of academic mathematics. While some of these articles concern the complexities of high level math, many of them focus on issues that women in academia face, regardless of their area of specialty. Readers interested in a feminist take on the academy will find much to appreciate on this erudite blog by a well-respected mathematician.
Blog on Math Blogs This blog from the American Mathematical Society (AMS) will bring joy to math aficionados the world over. Recent posts have covered such topics as "How to Celebrate Square Root Day," "All the P-values Fit to Print," and "Algebra: It's More Than Just Parabolas." Readers may explore the archives by month, dating back to April 2013, or scout by category, such as Applied Math, Biomath, Data Science, History of Mathematics, Math Education, Number Theory, Statistics, and many more. Entries are loaded with links to mathematical resources around the web and exude an unabashed love for the subject material. Readers may also be happy to note that the blog is currently edited by Anna Haensch, Evelyn Lamb, and Brie Finegold, three content experts who pen witty, entertaining, and fact-filled posts, all the while advancing the representation of women in math.
Global Math Department The Global Math Department is an informal network of mathematics instructors who met online (many blog about their instructional techniques and are active on Twitter) and decided to create a series of free, open webinars designed for use by other instructors. These webinars cover topics such as coding in math class and teaching students to make mathematical connects. Instructors can participate in live webinars each Tuesday evening at 9:00 PM EST; alternatively, anyone may view recordings of all past webinars on this website. To learn about upcoming webinars, one can check out the website's calendar. The Global Math Department also publishes a weekly online newsletter that highlights articles related to math instruction and features digital tools that can be used in the classroom. In addition to curriculum and instruction ideas, there are also many tips about blogging and using Twitter on this website.
Kids Math Talk Founded by Desiree Harrison, a math educator and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board member, Kids Math Talk is part podcast, part blog, and all about math. The site serves as a resource for educators and caregivers who are searching for ways to make math accessible, active, and fun. Marvel over mathematicians with the podcast's recent focus on uplifting voices from the math community, or explore the archive for plenty of practical tips to "create a positive narrative about math and the role that it plays in our lives." The podcast element of the platform launched in June of 2020, so it unsurprisingly focuses on making math education work in online environments. Episodes are usually less than 45 minutes, and most are accompanied by a transcript of the content. Listeners will also find the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, though a benefit of following the link above is the opportunity to explore the other site features; for example, readers will find a collection of math Resources (some for free, others for a fee) and a Blog. Readers can also keep up with the podcast, and Harrison's work generally, by following along on Twitter and Instagram, @Kidsmathtalk.
Marilyn Burns Math Blog
Math Ed Podcast Designed for mathematics educators, the Math Ed Podcast features conversations with experts across the globe about a wide variety of issues relating to mathematics instruction and the latest research in the field. This podcast was founded in 2012 by Samuel Otten, assistant professor of mathematics education at the University of Missouri. One recent episode features a conversation with Mandy Jensen and Dawn Berk, both of the University of Delaware School of Education, discussing their recent publication that examines the impact of an elementary mathematics education program on the instructional practices of six first-year teachers (all graduates of the same program). In another episode, UW-Madison professor emerita Elizabeth Fennema describes her research about gender and mathematics.
Math Values From the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) comes Math Values, a new blog launched in 2018 that "explores the diverse voices of mathematics and discusses topics related to and affected by mathematics." Here, readers will find informative articles written by professional mathematicians, math educators, and even math students. Examples of article topics include a recently implemented California law mandating a change in how community college students are placed in math courses, interviews with principal investigators of math education research projects that have received grants from the National Science Foundation, and a student's response to a paper critiquing the International Mathematical Olympiad. Math Values is organized into four thematic categories (Inclusivity, Community, Communication, and Teaching & Learning) that can be reached via a menu at the top, where readers will also find the site's search bar. Readers of past MAA blogs may also find new articles from some familiar columns here, such as Devlin's Angle and Launchings, written respectively by Keith Devlin and David Bressoud. Math Values will likely be of particular interest to STEM educators and administrators.
Mathologer The holidays may be a popular time for pie, but every day could use a little pi (the mathematical constant, of course). Mathologer, a YouTube channel operated by Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) math professor Burkard Polster, brings viewers all that and more. Polster's friend and fellow math professor Marty Ross collaborates on videos behind the scenes. Together, the duo created an informative and well-received platform that has garnered a significant following since launching in 2015. Most videos have more than 100,000 views, and some have more than one million. These videos tackle fascinating formulas and theorems and walk users through examples to test knowledge along the way. Though the content is often complex, plenty of humor is mixed in to keep viewers engaged. Plus, videos range in length, and some of the shorter snippets may be a welcomed tool for math educators. Readers in the holiday spirit may enjoy the December 24, 2019 video on "Fermat's Christmas theorem." New videos are released semi-regularly, so check back often for additional content.
My Favorite Theorem Those curious about the connection between Falting's theorem and New York City bagels (see Episode 53) may enjoy My Favorite Theorem. Hosted by math enthusiasts Keith Knudson and Evelyn Lamb, the podcast focuses on "sharing our guests' favorite mathematical results." While the show partly takes a traditional approach, asking guests to describe their favorite theorem, the podcast also mixes it up. Noting that "the best things in life come in pairs," the hosts "find out what our guest thinks pairs best with their theorem." For example, in Episode 54, Professor Steve Strogatz discusses connections he sees between Cubism paintings and Cauchy's theorem. Discover other unique pairs by listening to the more than 50 episodes released since 2017. These episodes, each around 30 minutes in length, can be found at the link above or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other popular streaming platforms. Readers looking for additional content can follow My Favorite Theorem on Twitter (@myfavethm) or browse the rest of Knudson's website (including a blog and resources from his presentations). Readers can find some of Lamb's math writing by reading her Roots of Unity blog in Scientific American or checking out her website at www.evelynjlamb.com.
Quanta Magazine: Abstractions Blog Quanta Magazine, the online publication dedicated to mathematics, theoretical physics, computer science, and life science, is home to Abstractions, a blog that explores promising ideas in science and mathematics. For example, one recent post describes new theories about Type 1a supernovae and why they explode. Another recent entry commemorates Marjorie Rice, who died in July 2016 at the age of 94. Rice, who had only taken one mathematics class in high school, discovered four tessellating pentagons that "'tile' the plane, locking together with copies of themselves in endless patterns." Another recent post explores the Human Cell Atlas project and what this atlas may contribute to research about diseases and human behavior. As with the rest of the magazine, Abstractions is a great resource for those interested in keeping up with new theories, conversations, and debates in the mathematics and science communities.
Sara VanDer Werf Sara VanDerWerf is a high school mathematics teacher who also serves as a consultant to other mathematics educators. Mathematics tutors and teachers will find a number of resources and ideas that may be of interest in her blog. These resources include classroom activities, lesson plan ideas, teaching reflections, and links to relevant outside resources. In one recent post, VanDerWerf discusses five things elementary school teachers can do to prepare students for secondary mathematics classes. VanDerWerf developed this list with Laura Wagenman, an elementary school math educator. In another recent post, VanDerWerf shares photographs of her classroom space (which includes a "calculator museum"), accompanied by explanations of how she sets up her classroom. In another post, she describes a "stand and talk," which is a variation of the think-pair-share activity designed to increase student engagement.