Asking teachers how to develop maths outreach and recruiting co-conspirators to create mathematical wonders. All on the 5th of February 2010.

Thanks to everyone who came, we had a great day. Some links to useful materials:

To make the plastic shapes (if your school has a laser cutter) the files are here:

Mann Heesch 3 (curved edges)

Myers Polyhex

I can also do this at £10 for 50 tiles (mixed colours). If you are interested in the maths cards that were also handed out we have a supply and can give mixed sets of 100s for free. For larger orders the printing cost is about £1000 for 3000 each of all 32 designs (smaller runs do not get significantly cheaper). 

Other materials from the day:

Edmund's slides from the morning (7MB pdf, tilings and 4d)

Stephen's slides from the afternoon (35KB pdf, departmental information)

Frank's slides from the afternoon (3.6MB pdf, The Euler Characteristic)

 How can we help you with your teaching? As a department we would like to build on our current outreach activities and find out what is good, what is not and what we are missing.  Talking to teachers is a two part event on the 5th of February.  In the morning there will be accessible research based workshops exploring current work in the department and how it might be used in schools. In the afternoon we will talk more specifically about what the department is doing and what we could do. There will then be time for discussions, suggestions and simply a chance to meet us and your fellow teachers.

        You are welcome to come either for the whole day or just for the afternoon session (starting at 2:00 pm); both options are aimed at all members of maths departments and other interested teachers/administrators. We hope that you will learn a little maths and also find out what the university can offer. This is part of a long term plan in the maths department to increase our involvement in helping maths teaching in the county.

        In order for us to plan the size of the event we would appreciate if you would let us know if you are interested in attending by the 28th of January. You can also let us know if you are interested in the idea of working with the university, but will not be able to attend this event. In both cases please contact Edmund Harriss (eh104@leicester.ac.uk).

9:30 Arrival and Coffee
10:00 - 11:00 Puzzles, Tilings and Impossible Mathematics:
A look at how the simple question of how shapes fill space can lead to some fiendish puzzles and to glimpse the fourth dimension and the limits of human knowledge (with toys!).

11:00 - 13:00 Discussion

How can these and other mathematical ideas from university and research be used to inspire and motivate mathematics in schools?

13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 14:30 Introduction to the Maths Department
14:30 - 15:00 Discussion

What outreach works, what does not, ideas and suggestions...

15:00 - 15:30 Euler's Gem or the Birth of Topology

A look into the mysteries beyond what we can count

15:30 - 16:00 Discussion and Tea

Concluding first discussion and finding conclusions.

Location:  University of Leicester
Morning:     Library Seminar Room in the University Library
    (Ask at the main library desk for room directions)
Afternoon:    ATT SB1.14 in the Attenborough Building
(see the university map for building locations)
Parking: Victoria park car park is within easy walking distance of the university.