Oakland/East Bay Math Circle
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Choose a number. Circle it. Cross out all of the numbers in the same row and
same column as the number you chose.
Choose a number that is not circled or crossed-out. Circle it. Cross out all the
numbers in the same row and the same column as the number you chose.
Continue the same process of circling and crossing out numbers until there is
only one number left. Circle it.
Add the six-circled numbers.
Choose different numbers and compare the sthe first. Were they the same, or
different?
Presented by Brandy S. Wiegers
Director, Oakland/ East Bay Math Circle
http://oebmc.mathcircles.org/
What is a Math Circle?
• Started in Eastern Europe
• Students + Professional Mathematicians
• Tuesday, Point Loma Room, 7-9 PM
• aaahhaa- inspiring mathematical experience
• community of peers to explore mathematics
Overview
• Oakland/ East Bay Math Circle
• Activities
– Success
– Lessons Learned
• Teachers’ Circle
• Questions/ Comments
Why Oakland/ East Bay?
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http://maps.google.com/
Oakland/ East Bay
Math Circle Approach
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http://maps.google.com/
• Teacher Based
Approach
• Middle & High
School Students
• Laney College in
Oakland
• Monday meetings,
1 hour
Data on Attendance
Total student participants in the program : 40
Average weekly student participants : 20
Total teacher/ administrators who have attended the
OEBMC Program : 11
Total teacher/ administrators who completed the
week-long Summer Teachers’ Circle Program : 11
Average teacher/ administrator participants : 6/7
Total number of schools participating : 8
Diversity of Students
Visual Diversity
Data of Students
Asian: 35 %
African-American: 23 %
Latino/ Hispanic : 15 %
Caucasian : 10%
Unknown : 17 %
Sex-Ratio of Students
Male : 55 %
Female : 45 %
Age Totals of Students
Middle school (6th-8th grade):
33 (82.5 %)
High school (9th -12th) :
6 (15 %)
Other (5th grader) : 1 (2.5 % )
OEBMC Instructors
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Yaim Cooper, University of California, Berkeley.
Charles Crissman, University of California, Berkeley.
Yvonne Lai, University of California, Davis.
Ezra Gouvea University of California, Davis.
Dr. Michael Orkin, Dean of Mathematics, and Sciences at Laney College.
Thomas Rike, Retired Mathematics Instructor, Oakland High School.
Dr. David G. Ross, Instructor and Chair of Mathematics Department at Laney
College.
Emily Peters, University of California, Berkeley.
Peter Tingley, University of California, Berkeley.
Brandy Wiegers, University of California, Davis.
Tom Davis, San Jose Math Circle
Dr. Tatiana Shubin, OEBTC Director, Professor of Mathematics, San Jose State
University.
Dr. Zvezdelina Stankova,Berkeley Math Circle Director, Associate Professor at
Mills College and UC Berkeley.
Joshua Zucker, OEBTC Director, Castilleja School.
Overview
• Oakland/ East Bay Math Circle
• Activities
– Success
– Lessons Learned
• Teachers’ Circle
• Questions/ Comments
Fall 2007 OEBMC Program
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Students
Criss-Cross
Probability
Mathematics of Origami
King Chickens
Definitions & Algorithms
Population Dynamics
Laws of Chance
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Teachers
Math Games (TC)
Winning Game
Strategies
One Player Games(TC)
Mobius Strips
Geometric Topology
Definitions & Algorithms
Laws of Chance
Criss-Cross - 1st Day of Class
An exciting game of skill and
strategy! Add two to seven
additional points anywhere
inside the dotted triangle game
board. Players alternate turns
drawing a single straight line
joining any two points, as long
as the segment does not pass
through any other points or
segments already appearing on
the game board. The winner is
the last player able to make a
legal move.
From Sam Vanderveld’s Circle in a Box lectures
Criss-Cross - 1st Day of Class
An exciting game of skill and
strategy! Add two to seven
additional points anywhere
inside the dotted triangle
game board. Players
alternate turns drawing a
single straight line joining
any two points, as long as
the segment does not pass
through any other points or
segments already appearing
on the game board. The
winner is the last player able
to make a legal move.
V=5
E=9
F=6
From Sam Vanderveld’s Circle in a Box lectures
Criss-Cross - 1st Day of Class
Lessons Learned:
 Create the Right
Tone- Interactive,
Mathematics
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Future Instructors
From Sam Vanderveld’s Circle in a Box lectures
Probability
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1/2 and 1/2:
1/2 the class got it, the
other 1/2 are continuing
not to get it
Lessons Learned:
 Understanding what they
cover in the curriculum
 Preparing instructors for
students
Mathematics of Origami
Mathematics of Origami
The students
FAVORITE set of
lessons
Lessons Learned
 Interactive
 Built on a promise
for ninja-stars
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King Chickens
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Understanding
Relationships
Lessons Learned:
 Probability
Returned!
 Student Enrollment
Decreased
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Algorithms & Definitions
Quadratic Formula
Lessons Learned:
 Personal
Relationships &
Stories- Instructors
Relating to the
students
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Mobius Strips
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AAHHAA Moment
“This is so coolwatch this!”
Population Dynamics
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“Rabbits are going to
take over the world and
make us their pets!”
Lessons Learned:
 Building on Research &
Other Resources
 DO NOT do it alone!
Laws of Chance, Airplanes &
Winter Activity Book
Lessons Learned:
 Using the
Resources of Laney
College
 Listening to the
Students
 Retention
Return to Probability
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2008 Magic Box
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1.
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5.
Choose a number. Circle it. Cross out all of the numbers in the same row and
same column as the number you chose.
Choose a number that is not circled or crossed-out. Circle it. Cross out all the
numbers in the same row and the same column as the number you chose.
Continue the same process of circling and crossing out numbers until there is
only one number left. Circle it.
Add the six-circled numbers.
Choose different numbers and compare the sthe first. Were they the same, or
different?
Preparing for Spring 2008
• 3 Courses
– Teachers
– “Green Students”
– “Yellow Students”
• Instructors
Overview
• Oakland/ East Bay Math Circle
• Activities
– Success
– Lessons Learned
• Teachers’ Circle
• Questions/ Comments
http://oebtc.mathcircles.org/
Tom Davis, 1:30 Wednesday
Teachers’ Circle
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Summer Program
Throughout the Bay
Area
Live on campus at
UCB, attend classes at
MSRI
Morning, afternoon &
evening classes taught
by local mathematicians
Paid
Year Long Math Circle
Program
• Paid to bring students
weekly
• Receive SJSU course
credit for attending
monthly 3 hour
sessions at Oakland or
San Jose + Summer
Program
Teacher Diversity Data
Summer Teachers’ Circle Program
Teachers/ administrators invited: 17
Total teacher/ administrators who completed the
week: 11
Total number of schools who sent participants: 12
OEBMC Program
Total teacher/ administrators who have attended: 11
Total number of schools participating : 8
OEBMC Teacher
Diversity Data
Total teacher/ administrators
who have attended: 11
Average teacher/
administrator participants : 6
Total number of schools
participating : 8
Total number of schools
regularly sending students :
5
Sex-Ratio of Participants
Male : 36 %
Female : 64 %
Teaching Focus of
Participants
Middle school (6th-8th
grade): 73 %
High school (9th -12th) :
18%
Other : 9%
My thanks to our sponsors
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Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
The Simons Foundation
The Firedoll Foundation
Laney College
Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
Oakland Unified School District
Thank You!
Brandy Wiegers
mathcircles@msri.org
http://oebmc.mathcircles.org
http://oebtc.mathcircles.org
National Association of Math Circles
http://mathcircles.org
Tuesday, 7-9pm, Point Loma Room
What brought me to Oakland?
Former UC Davis Explore Math Coordinator
Oakland/ East Bay Math Circle Director
MSRI National Math Circle Coordinator