Probability is a topic that often doesn't make it into adult education math classes. However, being able to reason about probability is an important life skill (as well as a topic that shows up on tests). This workshop presents a resource for teaching about experimental and theoretical probability through art, another topic that is engaging and relevant for students yet is rarely connected to math class. Through engaging with art using a mathematical lens, students will grow their ability to reason about probability (and other mathematical ideas) inside and outside of the classroom. Students will also develop the ability to see math as relevant to their lives.
- Teachers at all levels of math ability and comfort
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
In this interactive 90-minute workshop, we will analyze a work of art mathematically, through a lens of probability. We’ll make predictions, run probability experiments, gather data, discuss both formal and informal language of describing chance, and build an understanding of the difference between experimental and theoretical probability. We will also discuss ways to extend this lesson to explore other works of art, including those meaningful to and/or generated by students. You will leave with access to the full lesson plan and all resources needed to teach it.
- Implement the Seeing Math in Art lesson plan
- Explain in mathematical terms what it means for an event to be likely, unlikely, certain, or impossible
- Find the approximate experimental probability of an event through trials
- Explain the simple theoretical probability of an event occurring
- Compare experimental probability to theoretical probability models
Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:
United States
