Problem-Solving with TeraGrid K-12 Resources Alignments to Standards Brad Armosky Education Coordinator Texas Advanced Computing Center The University of Texas at Austin

Mission To enhance research, education, and society through the application of advanced computing technologies. Texas Advanced Computing Center Powering discoveries that change the world

Lonestar Dell Linux Cluster 5,840 cores 62.5 TFLOPS peak 12.5 TB memory 200 TB hard disk

TeraGrid

enhance How can TeraGrid enhance teaching and learning in your classroom?

Problem Solving ScienceMathematics Engineering

Problem Solving Thinking Tools

used as knowledge construction tools that students learn with, not from. …technologies should not support learning by attempting to instruct the learners, but rather should be used as knowledge construction tools that students learn with, not from. D.H. Jonassen, C. Carr, H-P Yueh. Computers as Mindtools for Engaging Learners in Critical Thinking.

Thinking Tools  Mindtools Mindtools In this way, learners function as designers, and the computers function as Mindtools for interpreting and organizing their personal knowledge. D.H. Jonassen, C. Carr, H-P Yueh. Computers as Mindtools for Engaging Learners in Critical Thinking.

Learning with, not from they enhance the capabilities of the computer, and the computer enhances their thinking and learning. …when students work with computer technologies, instead of being controlled by them, they enhance the capabilities of the computer, and the computer enhances their thinking and learning. D.H. Jonassen, C. Carr, H-P Yueh. Computers as Mindtools for Engaging Learners in Critical Thinking.

Whole > Parts The result of an intellectual partnership with the computer is that the whole of learning becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

Something else to consider … Perception (and inference) is everything.

Perception and Inference is Everything “What is Real? How do you define Real? If you are talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste, and see, then Real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain.” Morpheus, The Matrix

Perception and Inference is Everything “Each of us lives within … the prison of his own brain. heat, light, force, and chemical composition. Projecting from it are millions of fragile sensory nerve fibers, in groups uniquely adapted to sample the energetic world around us: heat, light, force, and chemical composition. That is all we ever know of it directly; all else is logical inference.” Vernon Mountcastle Neuroscientist, Johns Hopkins University

Perception and Inference is Everything Mindtools Mindtools extend our perception and enhance our natural ability of logical inference.

Mindtools you can use next week Computational Science Education Reference Desk

Baby-Steps to Advanced Computing Java applications Linux OS Ubuntu BCCD + LittleFe Science Gateways Programming

Baby-Steps to Advanced Computing Use Java apps on local classroom machines as Mindtools.

What are the Mindtools you use?

National Standards Problem Solving ScienceMathematics MindTools

Thinking Mathematically Problem Solving Thinking Tools

Science Thinking Scientifically Problem Solving/Scientific Inquiry Thinking Tools

Scientific Inquiry

Problem Solving Mathematical Disposition Problem solving means engaging in a task for which the solution is not known in advance. mathematical disposition Good problem solvers have a “mathematical disposition” – they analyze situations carefully in mathematical terms and naturally come to pose problems based on situations they see. NCTM

So, what can I do next week? Download visualization tools TeraGrid Education Resources Review exemplars of good integration Real-time K-12 Education Seismic Network

So, what can I do next week? Stay fresh Computing: an overview of NSF research Supercomputing Online Pat yourself on the back !! Chris Comer, Irene Picard, TEKS, and your own instincts encourage you to do this.