February 25 Day 354: Crowdsourcing Topics for Short Math Videos

The #TacomaMath work group of the STEAM Learning Network is working to positively change the mathematical culture in my city of Tacoma. We’ve employed various strategies throughout the pandemic, see July 25 Day 139: #TacomaMath. Starting this month, our workgroup has been creating Math Around Town recordings—one per week—suitable for school age children. No longer than 3 minutes, these videos feature a location in Tacoma and a mathematical idea. Today we released our fourth video. Here they are in reverse release order (from newest to oldest):

Sometimes the location suggests the mathematics. Sometimes the mathematics suggests a location.

I bet creative mathematicians out there can suggest fun (and short) mathematical explorations that can be adapted to Tacoma. Yes, there are wonderful resources (like Which Way did the Bicycle Go? by Konhauser, Velleman, and Wagon or Solve This by Tanton. ) However, they sit on a shelf in my campus office. Isn’t it safer and more fun to just ask you directly?

(FYI. When I say mathematician, I mean any person who does math. Please don’t disqualify yourself from sharing mathematical enthusiasms because you are young or uncredentialled. Proudly claim the title of “Mathematician” and help #TacomaMath make progress towards its goal of changing mathematical culture for the better.)

All current and future #TacomaMath Math Around Town recordings will be posted to this YouTube playlist.

Edited March 12: If you want to submit an idea or volunteer to collaborate on a Math Around Town, please visit https://forms.gle/gDesnEJyVvPv9pcs7.