TI Maths Team Challenge 08

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The TI Maths Team Challenge is designed to promote the use of ICT and reward the school that develops and presents the most innovative mathematical solution to a global issue. The aim of the challenge is to engage learners with the collection, analysis and exploration of data. Teams should address a live issue with real data, which could be collected from the Internet or taken from other curriculum areas such as science or geography.

We invite schools to assemble teams of between 3 and 5 learners to take the challenge. The team should constitute learners who will still be in school in the Autumn of 2008 (aged 16 or 17 who are not just doing AS levels/Highers/Leaving Certificate).

The team’s entry should address a topical global issue that affects us all. We believe that mathematics is at the heart of education and can be used in innovative ways to find solutions. Teams will be asked to justify their methods, strategies and make appropriate arguments to support their mathematical reasoning. Teams should download a free 30-day trial version of TI-Nspire software to develop their solution – we encourage teams of mathematicians, scientists or specialists in other subjects to work together on the challenge. To help with using the software, you can also find an introductory guide to TI-Nspire software and classroom activities on our Activities Exchange. 

The TI Maths Team Challenge aims to get learners thinking about global issues. Teams can choose from the following topics, or suggest one of their own:

• Climate Change
• Carbon Emissions
• Recycling
• Migration and Population Changes
• The Spread of Viruses

Teams should collect data relating to their chosen topic from the Internet or other sources and use this data to formulate their solutions. For example, teams may wish to measure their school's carbon footprint, project what the impact might be of changing the school's use of energy or resources and represent the data in different ways. For more information, visit www.carbontrust.co.uk.

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If you would like your school to enter the TI Maths Team Challenge 08, please send an email to timathschallenge@ti.com, telling us your name and the name of your establishment. You must register your team by Friday, July 18th 2008. Once we have received your details we will send you a framework document and other supporting information. Finished entries must be submitted to us by September 5th 2008.

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Following judging of entries, a number of teams will be selected to attend a Grand Final on the 29th October 2008. The winning team will be awarded the TI Maths Team Challenge trophy, will receive a class set of TI-Nspire technology with data logging sensors for their school and will be invited present their work on the TI stand at the BETT exhibition in January 2009.