Recommended Site: World Internet Math Relay Race

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Recommended Site World Internet Math Relay Race
vol. 4
http//www.ima.ne.jp/ekiden/index.html
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About the site
An annual competition in Mathematics problem
solving
Purpose
To have learners from various age (4th to 10th
graders) work on mathematics problems in teams.
Target learners
4th to 10th graders who have access to Internet
and comprehend Japanese language.
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Activities

• Register
• Choose the type of course (option ordinary
  hi-level)
• Find team members (each team consists of four)
• Within a team, decide each members turn
• On the date of race (Japan time July 26 AM000
  July 29PM1159) , each member solves problems.
• Each member has to solve all the assigned
  problems correctly.
• It is allowed to refer to hints, however, it
  results in addition of 30 min to the total
  solution time of the team.
• 6. Faster teams (up to 3rd for each course) as
  well as individual members who solve faster will
  be honored.

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Team solution time member 1 2 3 4
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Advantages

• To offer an opportunity to work in a team with
  others who differ in the developmental level.
• To promote pupils motivation for math problem
  solving.
• To decrease anxieties through the team work and
  by giving opportunities to look at hints.

Limitations

• Although each pupil works in a team, he/she has
  to solve by him/herself ? not a collaborative
  learning activity
• The concern is primary on time and the result
  (product) rather than procedures that each pupil
  used for solution (process).
• The aim is at a competition rather than a
  learning tool.

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Example of utilizing in an instruction

• Groups of teachers get together and design

• subject(s)
• projects or problems
• schedule
• website

• Prior to the engagement, students in each
  teachers classroom

• entry and form collaborative teams
• choose topics or types of problems that they are
  to work

• During the scheduled period, each group

• works contacting each other
• receives advice from teachers
• posts its work on the website

• After the completion

• see other teams works
• vote to excellent works