This week in our online modules, we looked at math in life as well as math and technology.

I think that currently, students are very easily able to see the connections between technology and mathematics. They are likely aware that it takes many mathematical concepts to create the iPods, cellphones, and computers that they all use on a regular basis. I do, however, worry that because technology is so readily available at all times, that students will fail to see the use for learning math skills; they will always have so many answers right at their fingertips.

This is why I really enjoyed the first topic of this weeks modules, math in life. This video encouraged us as educators to show students that math is all around them at all times. What was exciting to me, and hopefully would be exciting for students as well, was the fact that math exists not only in man made things, but that we can see math in nature too!

The Fibonacci Spiral 

Fibonacci was a famous Italian mathematician who discovered a spiral that we now call the Fibonacci Spiral. This discovery is so interesting and so exciting because it occurs in so many aspects of nature. We can see it in pinecones, snail shells, flowers, etc. These things haven't studied math, they create this pattern without trying.

The pattern works numerically by taking each number in a sequence and adding it to the previous number to create the following number.

1  1  2  3  5  8  13  21

1 + 1 = 2
1 + 2 = 3
2 + 3 = 5
...
8 + 13 = 21
etc.

Now you might be thinking, okay well how is this a spiral? It's not.. YET. The next step is to draw a square with an area of each of the numbers, placing them in a spiral.






If I were to teach students about the fibonacci sequence, I would likely begin by showing them images like these ones above, but without the lines drawn on them. I would ask students to brainstorm what they think the connection is between all of the images. I would then explain to them the formula and the concept for the fibonacci spiral.

I think it is truly beneficial for students to examine how math fits into the world around them and that they can use math without needing to take out a calculator.

That's all for this course!

I leave you with an adorable puppy, Happy Halloween!