I have appreciated the chance to scan my personal memory banks of neat stuff and lessons I have used in my teaching career, and try to bring them here in visual form. It’s never a good idea to stifle the creativity of others. Something new to you may be that “aha!” moment to somebody else.

I’m saddled with all these skips! Why not devise a system that grades ME at MY current level of understanding?! I don’t know if I can ever get my score up now! “No matter where you’re at… the system treats you fairly.”

It’s one thing to declare “a system that grades ME at MY current level of understanding.” It’s another to figure out what that system would look like in practice, and in code, how it would differentiate those users, how it would allow for their transition from one tier to the other, et cetera, et cetera. Gotta think these things through, seriously you guys.

But the next rev of 101questions includes the option for users to delete their own first acts. So you can feel free to delete anything you aren’t proud of and voila your perplexity score will be looking good again.

Ryan Brown:

At this point, I’ve posted about 300 questions. I’ve noticed that I’ve kind of changed my approach for coming up with questions for other people’s items. Rather than try to guess the question that fits as math teacher, I’m trying to put myself in the shoes of a 9th grader and decide “will they find this perplexing”? Fuzzy pictures: skip. Small font items like receipts and print advertisements that are full of numbers and words but no overtly visual content: skip. I’m also noticing that I’m beginning to skip items that are repeats of previously seen items — even just same genre items like super large ________. Initially, the questions were leaping right out at me. But now I feel like the student who says “oh, we’re doing this again.” No longer perplexed if I know what the teacher wants me to say. (Full disclosure: 2 of my 7 uploads are “world’s largest ______” related). Am I too harsh here, or are other people taking a similar approach?

I’m also finding a difference between “perplexing” and “interesting”. There’s a ton of stuff out there that is very cool and very interesting (intricate artwork, geometric designs, etc), but there is no obvious solvable mathematical question that is just begging to be asked. I skip those every time.

Nothing to say here. Just thought it deserved highlighting.

“just because you can make something mathematical… doesn’t mean it’s all that interesting. Or “perplexing””

Bingo. I look at the items I’m posting that have the lowest scores and clearly people are not seeing the question that was in my head. I’m bummed at first, but I think this is great feedback to receive.

At this point, I’ve posted about 300 questions. I’ve noticed that I’ve kind of changed my approach for coming up with questions for other people’s items. Rather than try to guess the question that fits as math teacher, I’m trying to put myself in the shoes of a 9th grader and decide “will they find this perplexing”? Fuzzy pictures: skip. Small font items like receipts and print advertisements that are full of numbers and words but no overtly visual content: skip. I’m also noticing that I’m beginning to skip items that are repeats of previously seen items – even just same genre items like super large ________. Initially, the questions were leaping right out at me. But now I feel like the student who says “oh, we’re doing this again.” No longer perplexed if I know what the teacher wants me to say. (Full disclosure: 2 of my 7 uploads are “world’s largest ______” related). Am I too harsh here, or are other people taking a similar approach?

I’m also finding a difference between “perplexing” and “interesting”. There’s a ton of stuff out there that is very cool and very interesting (intricate artwork, geometric designs, etc), but there is no obvious solvable mathematical question that is just begging to be asked. I skip those every time.

But, I keep coming back for more. Can’t help it. And I think I’m beginning to understand that just because you can make something mathematical… doesn’t mean it’s all that interesting. Or “perplexing” (I’m beginning to not like that word) :D

signed,
perplexlessly devoted perplexer

P.S. This has me thinking Dan… I’m saddled with all these skips! Why not devise a system that grades ME at MY current level of understanding?! I don’t know if I can ever get my score up now! “No matter where you’re at… the system treats you fairly.”

::moonwalks out::

My guess is you would get more viewers if you had a moderator filtering the entries. There is quite a bit of weeding that needs to be done. Lots of quality examples tends to encourage more quality and …

A site where your photo or video only finds purchase on the main floor if it meets the approval of a small group of moderators isn’t all that interesting to me.

Bob Lochel:

Dan, is there any way to do a top 10 (or 5, whatever)….of just the last 30 days?. The top 10 first acts can be tough to crack, and it would be nice to see a more evolving list.

Definitely. The next rev will include a “right now” link next to “all time.”

http://www.aplusclick.com/t.htm?level=2;t=3;q=1940

(It turns out that for the specific instance in the video, if you are just looking for the probability of getting in the $10000 space you can ignore the side walls.)

Suggestion for further work with your kids: have them work on expansions like (L + R)^n, working up to (L + R)^5. Then see if they can explain the connection between the L’s and R’s, the Plinko game, and the probability the students found.