To all of the math educators heading to New Orleans for NCSM/NCTM Annual Meeting & Exposition this week--welcome to the Big Easy!
You might wonder why the CEO of a startup that builds instructional management systems would be writing about math. The reason is simple: as a former Algebra teacher, I can remember the excitement of traveling to a conference, being totally overwhelmed with sessions, and not having a moment to explore what was happening on the ground in the host city.
And since there is a LOT of innovation happening in education here in New Orleans, a few friends of Kickboard joined me in building this list of 10 "must-dos" while you're in town. If you're looking to spend your spare time and money on something other than convention center food stands and Bourbon Street, we've got you covered.
10. Capture math concepts in a quintessential New Orleans photo opp and submit your pics to Dan Meyers' 101qs.com.
9. Learn about New Orleans' population growth since Katrina and return home armed with primary sources from the GNO Data Center for a classroom project.
8. Visit Kickboard world headquarters and collaborate with a product designer to mockup an innovative way to visually report your students' academic and social-emotional growth.
7. Bond with your new math teacher friends by LOL'ing at a local improv show at NMT and then take the fun home with you by watching the NOLA web comedy Sunken City.
6. Draw your favorite math problem on the walls at the 4.0 Schools Design Lab and then prototype a new way to teach kids the concept behind it.
5. Get your math trivia on at the Mathalicious/Desmos-hosted Happy Hour.
4. Catch a live music performance at Tipitina's, and enjoy the fact that their Foundation donates musical instruments to local school bands. Because there's math in music.
3. Skip Starbucks and get your morning caffeine fix at local institutions like PJ's or CC's.
2. See how many evacuspots you can find throughout the city, and return to your classroom with a real-world project to model emergency transportation requirements during a mandatory evacuation.
1. Squeeze in a school visit to see how NOLA is on the forefront of math education (we recommend Bricolage Academy's conceptual math program, SciTech Academy's robotics program, and afterschool blended learning with mSchool at Trinity Christian Community).
I'm sure we missed a few things, so add your recommendations in the comments--and laissez les bons temps rouler!
