Name

Title

Synopsis

Ms Carrie Chiappetta

Prof Chris Budd

Ms Aoibhinn Ni   Shúilleabháin

Dr Ailish Hannigan

Dr Jon D. Davis

Mr James Grime

Alan Turing and the Enigma Machine

 Alan Turing was one of our great 20th century mathematicians, and a pioneer of computer science. However, he may best be remembered as one of the leading code breakers of Bletchley Park during World War II. It was Turing's brilliant insights and mathematical mind that helped to break Enigma, the apparently unbreakable code used by the German military. We present a history of both Alan Turing and the Enigma, leading up to this fascinating battle of man against machine - including a full demonstration of an original WWII Enigma Machine!

Exploring the mathematical difficulties affecting first year university students as observed in the UCD Maths Support Centre.

 The Maths Support Centre (MSC) in University College Dublin (UCD) was opened in February 2004 with the aim of easing the transition of first year students to mathematics at third level. The centre has grown dramatically since then and now offers mathematics support to all students in UCD, irrespective of the level of module they are taking. We also support students who may not be taking a mathematics module, yet experience mathematical difficulties in their chosen field of study.

In 2009 a database was created by the MSC, recording details of visits by students to the centre and this database has been maintained up to the present time. Amongst other data, a record is kept of the mathematical topic(s) for which each student sought support. In this presentation, using our database results, we present our findings on the prevalence of certain mathematical topics with which first year students frequently experience difficulty.

Dr Maria Meehan

Ms Nuala Curley

Dr Maurice O’Reilly

 Ms. Catherine Kierans

 Autograph Demonstration

This will be an interactive session so please bring along your laptop if you wish to participate.

Ms Audrey Byrne

Digital   Literacy in the 21st Century: Implications for teaching and learning

Ms Julie O’Donovan

Ms Pamela O’Brien

 Matthias Ehmann

Carsten Miller

 sketchometry – Dynamic Mathematics on Tablets and PCs

The Internet goes mobile. Tablet computers conquer our living and children’s rooms. Commercials promise us a brave new world. Do we really live in a brave new world? How do these developments influence learning? Which chances do we have in mathematics education?

These questions are the introduction of the talk about sketchometry, a new kind of dynamic mathematics software, especially designed for tablet computers. Lines, circles or triangles are simply sketched with the finger on the screen. The software transforms them into geometric objects. The finger becomes compass or ruler.

In contrast to PCs, software on tablet computers is ready-to-use right after power-up. Creating constructions with sketchometry in mathematics lessons becomes as easy as the usage of pocket calculators. The mobile devices can be used point by point by the students. It is not necessary to go to a computer lab for the whole lesson.

For a gainful integration of these advantages in mathematics education, it is necessary to rethink didactical and methodical concepts. Traditional media, as text books or printed worksheets, can be used together with sketchometry on the tablet. The usage of computers does no longer happen isolated but integrated.

NCCA Representative