In December of 2018, two students in our Multivariable Calculus class started a mini-revolution that trickled down through all levels of mathematics learning in our high school and engaged all students in understanding why "math is useful". These two "first-responder" students created an Augmented Reality (AR) Sandbox that literally allowed students to "play in a sandbox". Students could mold shapes in sand, make sandcastles, and have fun. Then, once they were hooked, elbows-deep in sand, we taught them the multi-dimensional math of contour maps and level curves.
After completing the base requirement for their class grade, these two students advertised their project to students in other math classes and teachers in other subject at our school, and demo'ed the AR Sandbox they created during lunch time to any interested students. During the course of one week, several high school students (from Geometry to Multivariable Calculus) an several teachers (who teach subjects from Social Science to Physics to Mathematics) can to play in the sandbox and learn the applications of contour maps and level curves.
The original project presented by these two students was based on the work of Oliver Kreylos at UC Davis. Based on their work, our school, Amador Valley High School, was placed on the AR Sandbox Map (https://arsandbox.ucdavis.edu/). However, the original sandbox was created with materials that the the two students borrowed from their friends and parents. The students donated the sandbox itself (wood, nuts, bolts, screws, and sand) to our Physics and Mathematics Departments. But, the electronic equipment needed to make the sandbox "work" were returned to the original donors. We would like to acquire these electronic components once again so that we can let future high school students "play in the sandbox" and learn "why math is useful" to us all.
About my class
In December of 2018, two students in our Multivariable Calculus class started a mini-revolution that trickled down through all levels of mathematics learning in our high school and engaged all students in understanding why "math is useful". These two "first-responder" students created an Augmented Reality (AR) Sandbox that literally allowed students to "play in a sandbox". Students could mold shapes in sand, make sandcastles, and have fun. Then, once they were hooked, elbows-deep in sand, we taught them the multi-dimensional math of contour maps and level curves.
After completing the base requirement for their class grade, these two students advertised their project to students in other math classes and teachers in other subject at our school, and demo'ed the AR Sandbox they created during lunch time to any interested students. During the course of one week, several high school students (from Geometry to Multivariable Calculus) an several teachers (who teach subjects from Social Science to Physics to Mathematics) can to play in the sandbox and learn the applications of contour maps and level curves.
The original project presented by these two students was based on the work of Oliver Kreylos at UC Davis. Based on their work, our school, Amador Valley High School, was placed on the AR Sandbox Map (https://arsandbox.ucdavis.edu/). However, the original sandbox was created with materials that the the two students borrowed from their friends and parents. The students donated the sandbox itself (wood, nuts, bolts, screws, and sand) to our Physics and Mathematics Departments. But, the electronic equipment needed to make the sandbox "work" were returned to the original donors. We would like to acquire these electronic components once again so that we can let future high school students "play in the sandbox" and learn "why math is useful" to us all.
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