In today's episode, we explore some of the genesis of Richard’s fascination with puzzle making and solving. Richard describes, in depth a puzzle similar to O’Beirne’s step-cut that he himself created. Then expands on O’Beirne’s puzzle itself. This link will take you to a page with three videos he references in http://goo.gl/Y3ta7C.
We go on to explore an event known as “Puzzle Party” which is a gathering of other puzzle makers. We pursue and explore what it means to be seriously, passionately involved in a playful act of puzzling. “If kids could just have that sense of joy of solving a problem…”
Since we mention it in the podcast, below you can find a link to an online version of the “Towers of Hanoi” puzzle. Enjoy!
https://www.mathsisfun.com/games/towerofhanoi.html

Episode 8 | Richard Thiessen's Puzzle Party

The ZPC podcast is focused on learning and teaching of mathematics & science. The guests are teachers & researchers from around the globe. We have informal conversations about deep concepts and ideas.

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We're reaching back into the archives this week to bring back a fun one. WHAT IS A FLEEGLE? Jason and Scott will try and tell you!Jason Chamberlain and Scott Nielsen are a pair of Research Associates at the AIMS Center, they work together in our K-1 team studying how children of this age form their understanding of number concepts.  These two gave a Colloquium talk  on Monday February 26, 2018 (if you go watch the archive please note that we had a power outage for several minutes mid talk, but these two men kept right on rolling) that focused upon the Von Glasersfeldian concept of re-presentation as a portion of the process of understanding.  They join Chris in the studio to discuss this critical ability that all learners need to possess for deep conceptual understanding.  In their talk they take the attendees through an experience where we all built a concept of an object they called a Fleegle.  
The conversation in this podcast ranges across several topics but always returns to the main idea of learners needing to experience concepts so that they have a collection of those experiences to draw upon when they are asked to act upon that knowledge. The idea of collective understanding and the role of society in individual understandings is hinted at as well.

Episode 94 | The Best of ZPC - Fleegles as an Object Lesson in Re-Presentation

This week, Dr. Tiffany Friesen, one of our Senior Researchers, chats with Research Associates Jason Chamberlain and David Pearce about their recent presentation at the Early Math Symposium. They discuss the idea of subitizing and the important role it plays in students' construction of addition concepts.

Episode 93 | Moving Beyond Subitizing - Jason Chamberlain and David Pearce

Chris Brownell is still enjoying his Summer so Paul Reimer is guest hosting for us again this week.
This week we wrap up a quick 3-part series with our Early Math Team as they reflect on an opportunity they had to take their learning about Mathematical Play into the classroom. Hear how the kids engaged and some of the takeaways from their time.
Make sure to listen to Episodes 90 and 91 to get some context and understanding on the subject if you'd like to know more.

Episode 92 | Taking Mathematical Play Into The Classroom - AIMS Early Math Team

Chris Brownell is continuing to enjoy his well deserved vacation and stepping out from the shadows to host today is our producer, Chris Bennett.We continue our conversation about presentations that were given at the recent Early Math Symposium with Aileen and Liz. They gave teachers an opportunity to not only learn about the importance of play in their classrooms, but to experience examples of it for themselves. We discuss how teachers can incorporate play into their classrooms as well as how it might change the way they assess their students.

Episode 91 | The Power of Mathematical Play - Aileen Rizo and Liz Gamino

With Chris gone for the next few weeks at conferences, we're doing our best to fill his chair.
This week, Paul Reimer, one of our Senior Researchers, sits down with Jaclyn Russell and Wilma Hashimoto to discuss their presentation at the recent Early Math Symposium. They take the time to talk about their experiences with spatial reasoning in preschool classes and what brought them to put together a presentation about the importance of spatial reasoning and awareness for teachers in their classrooms.

Episode 8 | Richard Thiessen's Puzzle Party

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