Lakewood, WA – It’s titled, “Multiply your options” and for 21st century middle school students, multiplying, dividing and conquering math in today’s competitive marketplace is a good option.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1,200 students from Tacoma, Clover Park, Eatonville, and Bethel School Districts will be participating in 36 real world math workshops and special projects titled, “Ready, Set, Build” for boys and “Hard Hats, Hammers and Hotdogs” for girls as Clover Park Technical College hosts its 4th Annual “Math to Careers” conference.
The event, located on the Lakewood campus, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW. features a half-day of fun and hands-on experience about how math is applied in different real world careers.
Highlights of live demonstrations include:
- Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club will play host to sabermetrics – a calculation they use to determine whether a baseball player has a professional future in the sport.
Assistant head coach for Pacific Lutheran University football team will give coach’s instruction on how math is used in sports and making that winning play on the field.
Washington State Patrol will be on site discussing how math is used in criminal investigations.
Port of Tacoma will discuss engineering and demolitions.
Robotics competition will show how math is applied in the engineering and design of robots.
Lakewood firefighters will illustrate the use of water hydraulics and show how math is interconnected with the safety of lives and property.
Calculating the examination of a car’s skid marks will provide an up close experience of how Lakewood police officers use math to investigate accidents.
“If I Had a Hammer” will lead 30 students outfitted with real tools to build a prefabricated espresso stand, complete with a drive-up window.
Buying Your First Car will give teenagers the knowledge needed to make a smart first-car purchase, led by financing experts at Milam Jeep Mazda car dealership in Tacoma.
Design experts will demonstrate how calculating the right amount of fabric for clothing and home accessories is directly linked to business’ financial success in fashion design and home interior design.
Central Pierce Fire and Rescue EMT specialists will give students the chance to learn how math is used to help save lives, when precious minutes count dialing EMT calls.
More live demonstrations will be on display. Using campus-wide workshops, hands-on exercises, face-to-face interactions, and small group activities, Clover Park instructors and community and business partners will showcase how math skills are vital to a successful career.
“We are dedicated to engaging students in a unique, fun, and creative way,” said Janet Holm, coordinator for the conference. “Students will spend the afternoon experiencing first-hand how math is literally everywhere and why it is so important to their education and their future.”
Nationally acclaimed speaker Dr. Arthur Benjamin “The Human Calculator” will inspire and entertain students during an amazing “Mental Calculation” presentation. Dr. Benjamin will demonstrate and explain his secrets for performing rapid mental calculations faster than a calculator. Kicking off the event will be a math rap video titled, “Math is What You Do” geared for the younger audience.
The video is available in AVI and/or MP3 formats. Great photo opportunities exist as students will be participating in hands-on projects. To arrange interviews or photos, please call Shawn Jennison, 253-365-1918.
Print This Post