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Sneak Learning Into Everyday Life: The Math Edition

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Kathryn deBros December 23, 2014

Learning doesn’t have to be limited to the classroom. Supplement your child’s knowledge with these activities to make her mad about math.

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

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The kids who are successful in school are those who remain curious even after the last bell rings, who notice the world around them, and who make connections between subjects and ideas. There are millions of ways to keep minds of all ages active and engaged outside the classroom.

The following article is part of a Noodle series about how to integrate learning into everyday life in order to instill a love of knowledge in your kids.

The Math Edition

Math is anxiety-provoking for a lot of kids, but you can help boost their confidence and reinforce key skills by integrating math into everyday life at home! Read on for suggestions that will engage and inspire mathematicians of all ages.

# Go shopping.

Give kids a budget, and have them practice counting, estimating, and finding differences to make sure they don’t overspend. Your younger kids can choose a snack under three dollars, for example. Really young kids can practice counting your spare change. Older kids may be able to plan a party or go clothing shopping within a budget. Make sure they account for sales tax!

# Solve puzzles.

Keep a small hand-held puzzle in your car and an ongoing picture puzzle in the living room. Puzzles teach spatial reasoning and problem-solving strategies for kids of all ages.

# Tell time.

You can have younger kids learn to identify the time on an analog clock, and see how long it takes to finish an activity. Older kids can practice gauging how long a task will take, and how much time they have left over. For example, can I play video games for another 20 minutes and still have enough time to shower before bed? Or, if grandma’s house is about 10 miles away, and we’re driving at 20 miles per hour, how long will it take us to get there? What about if we drove at 30 miles per hour?

# Cook.

Making food is a wonderful task for teens who are motivated to learn greater independence. Give them a budget, and allow them to choose recipes, shop for ingredients, measure, and time their cooking to make dinner for everybody! Younger kids will need supervision, but can still participate in measuring out ingredients (hello, fractions!) and timing the cookies in the oven.

# Make things.

You can teach kids to sew, knit, or build simple projects. As they do these crafts, kids will practice measuring and calculating how much of a material they need. You can challenge your kids to make a sculpture that fits exactly in a nook on your shelf, or see if they can make a to-scale still-life of your fruit bowl. Kids will increase planning and organizing skills, as well.

# Play.

There are innumerable math games for iPhones and iPads. For example, Dragon Box teaches algebraic thinking without actually using numbers — your kids won’t even know they’re learning! Mathly Hollows is another favorite. In this game, kids must protect a wizard from attacking monsters by performing mathematical operations.

Want more ideas on how to cultivate a love of learning in your child? Check out other parts of this series:

Sneak Learning Into Everyday Life: The Civics Edition

Sneak Learning Into Everyday Life: The Geography Edition

Sneak Learning Into Everyday Life: The History Edition

Sneak Learning Into Everyday Life: The Language Arts Edition

Sneak Learning Into Everyday Life: The Music Edition

Sneak Learning Into Everyday Life: The Nutrition Edition

Sneak Learning Into Everyday Life: The Science Edition

Sneak Learning into Everyday Life: The Visual Art Edition