Library

Creativity in mathematics. Inquiry-Based Learning and the Moore Method

Epson DC-10s Document Camera

SXGA resolution for amazing clarity and color; 14 x19 inches capture area to display two full pages; Built-in LED light source and SD card slot; 40x zoom (5x digital, 8x manual); Split screen to display two images

NOVA - Infinite Secrets: The Genius of Archimedes

In 1991, a small Medieval prayer book was sold at auction. Miraculously, some original writings of Archimedes, the brilliant Greek mathematician, were discovered hidden beneath the religious text. Through scholarly detective work with the help of modern technology, this book now reveals Archimedes’ stunningly original concepts, ideas, and theories—revelations that, if known sooner, might have reshaped our world.

Many historic figures have been hailed as ahead of their time. Few—if any—are said to be centuries ahead of their time. The Einstein of his era, Archimedes had a sophisticated understanding of mathematics, and designed marvelous war machines for his native Syracuse to use against the invading Romans. Many of Archimedes’ works disappeared during the Middle Ages, but some survived to help inspire the scientific revolution in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. One document that seemed irretrievably lost was his final treatise The Method, which reputedly explained how he achieved his brilliant results—secrets he revealed nowhere else. Now, over 2200 years later, the discovery of The Method has experts and scientists dreaming of what might have been if Renaissance thinkers and other great minds had known of his ideas and been able to build on them.

NOVA explores Archimedes’ rare writings, as well as the book’s mysterious beginnings, tumultuous history and amazing discovery. As the ancient text comes back from the dead, it unlocks its revolutionary contents—the infinite secrets of one of history’s greatest thinkers.

Special DVD features include: activities for educators; materials and activities for librarians; a link to the Infinite Secrets Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Flatland: The Movie

N Is a Number: Portrait of Paul Erdos

George Paul Csicery A man with no home and no job Paul Erdos was the most prolific mathematician who ever lived. Erdos who died in 1996 at the age of 83 inspired generations of mathematicians throughout the world with his insightful approach and wry humor. This whimsical documentary follows him for four years through four countries presenting his mathematical quest and its personal and philosophical dimensions. Animated sequences illustrate the kinds of mathematical problems that Erdos pursued. Gold Apple winner at the National Educational Film & Video Festival.

Hard Problems: The Road to the World's Toughest Math Contest

George Csicsery Hard Problems is about the extraordinary gifted students who represented the United States in 2006 at the world s toughest math competition: The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). It is the story of six American high school students who competed with 500 others from 90 countries in Ljublijana, Slovenia. The film shows the dedication and perseverance of these remarkably talented students, the rigorous preparation they undertake, and the joy they get out of solving challenging math problems. It captures the spirit that infuses the mathematical quest at the highest level. The DVD provides two versions of the documentary: the feature that runs 82 minutes, and a classroom version that runs 45 minutes. BONUS FEATURE SEQUENCES Mathematicians in finance (11:16) Families and schooling (15:55) Girls and the IMO (17:03) History of the IMO (7:12) USA and IMO Olympiads 2006-2007 problems and answers - an 82 pp pdf that shows problems and solutions from the competition. Funding for Hard Problems was provided by a grant from The Penn Oberlander Family Foundation and Ellington Management Group, L.L.C. Cinematogrphy: Skip Sweeney and Andras Toth Szollos. Editor, Tal Skloot. Music by Todd Boekelheide and Alex Liu.

Hard Problems: The Road to the World's Toughest Math Contest

Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games

Martin Gardner The entire collection of Martin Gardner's Scientific American columns on one searchable CD! Martin Gardner’s “Mathematical Games” column ran in Scientific American from 1956 to 1986. In these columns Gardner introduced hundreds of thousands of readers to the delights of mathematics and of puzzles and problem solving. His column broke such stories as Rivest, Shamir and Adelman on public-key cryptography, Mandelbrot on fractals, Conway on Life, and Penrose on tilings. He enlivened classic geometry and number theory and introduced readers to new areas such as combinatorics and graph theory. The CD contains the following books: 1. Hexaflexagons and Other Mathematical Diversions 2. The Second Scientific American Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions 3. New Mathematical Diversions 4. The Unexpected Hanging and Other Mathematical Diversions 5. Martin Gardner’s 6th Book of Mathematical Diversions from Scientific American 6. Mathematical Carnival 7. Mathematical Magic Show 8. Mathematical Circus 9. The Magic Numbers of Dr. Matrix 10. Wheels, Life, and Other Mathematical Amusements 11. Knotted Doughnuts and Other Mathematical Entertainers 12. Time Travel and Other Mathematical Bewilderments 13. Penrose Tiles to Trapdoor Ciphers 14. Fractal Music, Hypercards, and more Mathematical Recreations from Scientific American 15. The Last Recreations: Hydras, Eggs, and Other Mathematical Mystifications. A profile and interview with Martin Gardner is included in this collection

Independent Lens: Between the Folds

Vanessa Gould How kids can be passionate about mathematics. DVD includes the book Circle in a Box

Donald in Mathmagic Land Classroom Edition DVD

Hamilton Luske With Disney's trademark blend of music and animation, Donald in Mathmagic Land travels across the curriculum and right into the real world. Students can actually see math's connections to art, architecture, plants, sports, and games. Animated. This Classroom Edition DVD includes Public Performance Rights and a printable teacher's guide.

NOVA - The Elegant Universe

Joseph McMaster, Julia Cort One of the most ambitious and exciting scientific theories ever posed—one that may be the long-sought "Theory of Everything"—gets a masterful and lavishly animated explanation that will excite scientists and non-scientists alike. Beginning with simple and clear explanations of major concepts of physics, including gravity, electromagnetism, and relativity, The Elegant Universe illuminates one of the most revolutionary theories in physics today.

Known as string theory or superstring theory, this startling idea proposes that the fundamental ingredients of nature are inconceivably tiny strands of energy, whose different modes of vibration underlie everything that happens in the universe. The theory attempts to unite the laws of the large—general relativity—and the laws of the small—quantum mechanics—breaking a conceptual logjam that has frustrated scientists for nearly a century.

If string theory proves correct, the universe we see obscures a reality that is far richer and more complex than anyone ever imagined—a universe with numerous hidden dimensions, a universe in which the fabric of space can rip and tear, a universe that may be but one of many parallel universes.

Join host Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University and the best-selling author of The Elegant Universe, for this exciting and in-depth exploration of this groundbreaking new theory.

Special DVD features include: bonus video—how the animation was created; Multidimensional Math activity; The Making of The Elegant Universe activity; printable materials and activities for educators; link to The Elegant Universe Web site; excerpt from the best-selling book The Elegant Universe; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On two DVD9 discs. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

On two DVD9 discs. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Funny Numbers: An Evening with Steve Martin in Coversation with Bob Osserman

MSR

The John Cage Legacy

MSRI The John Cage Legacy: Chance in Music and Mathematics" in the Simons Auditorium. This 'happening' presents composer/performers from the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in a concert, followed by a discussion between the musicians and mathematician/statistician/magician, randomness expert Persi Diaconis of Stanford University and moderated by Bob Osserman, Special Projects Director at MSRI.

M*A*T*H Alan Alda in Conversation with Bob Osserman

MSRI January 17, 2008. Alan Alda, Emmy award-winning actor and author of bestselling memoirs, will talk on stage with mathematician Bob Osserman (Special Projects Director at MSRI) about Alda’s lifelong interest in science. He has sought to promote a greater understanding of science by the public, which has led him to host on PBS Scientific American Frontiers for eleven years. Alan Alda is also an acclaimed director and writer for film and television. He has acted in many starring roles on stage, screen, and television, including that of Hawkeye Pierce on the classic TV series M*A*S*H and, more recently, as Senator Arnold Vinick on The West Wing.

On Mathematical Grounds

MSRI

On Mathematical Grounds

MSRI "On Mathematical Grounds" provides a glimpse of life at one of the world's premier mathematical institutes, focusing on its activities, people and programs.

The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) serves the world as a center for research and postdoctoral studies and as a focal point for the dissemination of new mathematics and its applications. Over 2,000 leading mathematical scientists from around the world visit MSRI each year.

In addition to its research activities, MSRI hosts programs that inform the public and strengthen mathematical education from junior high through graduate school.

Support for MSRI comes from government agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Security Agency and the Department of Energy; corporations and leading universities; private foundations; and the donations of private individuals.

Videos from the CIrcle in a Box

MSRI

NOVA: Fractals - Hunting the Hidden Dimension

n/a Studio: Wgbh Wholesale Release Date: 03/10/2009 Run time: 56 minutes

Cracking the Maya Code - NOVA

Nova The ancient Maya civilization of Central America left behind a riddle: an intricate and mysterious hieroglyphic script carved on stone monuments and painted on pottery and bark books. Because the invading Spanish suppressed nearly all knowledge of how the script worked, unlocking its meaning posed one of archaeology's fiercest challenges, until now.

For the first time, NOVA presents the epic inside story of how the decoding was done, told by the experts at the center of one of archaeology's greatest detective stories. Cracking the Maya Code highlights the ingenious breakthroughs that opened the door to deciphering the elaborate and exotic script and finally cracked the code, unleashing a flood of dramatic new insights about the ancient civilization

Imagination in a Box!

Rudy Poe It's about the future. It's about what's possible. It's about you! This "Imagination in a Box!" DVD features over two hours of videos that are sure to get everyone thinking about the power of imagination, creativity and how a positive mindset can equate to positive change in our world today. By utilizing the video content on this disc along with the print materials provided on the imagineitproject.com website, you can easily get the conversation started in your classroom or community. "Imagination in a Box!" can also be used to create fundraisers for your school or non-profit organization.

Videos included:

Imagine it! - The Post It Challenge (Running time: 49:17)

What if you gave thousands of students a common household object and challenged them to create as much value as possible?

In February 2007 Stanford University invited students from around the world to participate in a global challenge. The challenge? Add value to a pack of Post-it(r) Notes...in just six days! Student teams from North America, Asia, Australia and Latin America surprised everyone with what they accomplished. The students lifted spirits, opened minds, raised awareness, raised money, donated to charity, educated kids, promoted health, talked politics and created music. By harnessing the power of online collaboration, imagine it! shares the students' stories of what they did by collecting digital media created by the students themselves. Additional perspectives are from competition officials, university professors, celebrated authors and entrepreneurs from around the world.

Imagine it!² - The Power of Imagination (Running time: 52:01)

Imagine it!² The Power of Imagination is about connecting imagination and creativity with science and engineering in education. This film inspires people to imagine a better world, unleash their creativity, and take action to solve global challenges. The film features a wide variety of visionaries including:

Sally Ride, Physicist, NASA astronaut, first American woman in space
Chris Wink, Phil Stanton, Matt Goldman, Co-founders, The Blue Man Group
Carol Engelmann, Einstein Fellow, National Science Foundation
Charles Vest, former President MIT, President, National Academy of Engineering
Sir Ken Robinson, Author, All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education
Peter Diamandis, CEO, The X PRIZE
Ray Kurzweil, Futurist and Author, The Singularity is Near
G. Wayne Clough, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution

* Three abbreviated 18-21 minute versions of Imagine it!² are on the DVD as well!

Imagine it! - Shorts

"Imagination in a Box" also contains 6 short films including the 4 minute START! video which will help you get the imagination conversation started, a :30 public service announcement featuring students featured in the imagine it! series, "Blue School" a short that shows how the Blue Man Group is helping keep creativity alive in the 21st Century and Dean Kamen's "FIRST Robotics" filmed at the world championships in Atlanta, 2008.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

What are the Odds?

Mathew Tritt What are the Odds? is the charming story of two young mathematicians who come to New York City for a conference and keep bumping into each other. Through mathematics, they determine that their repeated encounters must be the work of fate, but is it? This short film, shot in Manhattan on 16mm film, is a delightful tribute to New York City, to the romantic order of the universe, and to those forces that even mathematics can't explain.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

The Secret of Trapezes: Science Research Lessons on Pendulums

Shizuoka University

The Color of Fear

Lee Mun Wah