Cryptography is the study and practice of secure communication, making it an interesting and relevant application. In addition to number theory concepts like modular arithmetic, this session uses locks, codes, and ciphers to explore functions (definition, inverse functions, linear functions).
We adapt “Parable of the Polygons” (Vi Hart and Nicky Case), an online simulation on diversity and segregation, into an appropriate MTC session. The session is interactive, and offers multiple layers of content depending on the age and comfort level of students with conversations on social issues. These levels include: (1) an exercise in fractions, (2) an introduction to game theory, (3) an invitation for students to think about the benefits of diverse groups, and (4) a discussion of how individual biases, no matter how small, can lead to detrimental societal effects like segregation. Triangles and Squares live together in...
