math

Joan Horvath and Rich Cameron, authors of Make: Trigonometry

Trig – The Oldest Practical Math

My guests on this episode are the authors of Make Trigonometry, Build Your Way from Triangles to Analytic Geometry, Joan Horvath and Rich Cameron. Make Trigonometry is the third math book that Joan and Rich have written with us, the previous books being Make Geometry and Make Calculus.

Joan calls herself a recovering rocket scientist. In that career, she worked on spacecraft headed to distant planents. Her co-author, Rich, has a very different background as an open source developer who has been involved in 3D printing since its emergence in the maker community.

Together they have come up with a way to teach math using 3D models that turn math into a hands-on learning experience for students.

Continue Reading September 8th, 2023September 14th, 2023 Dale Dougherty

A Better Way to Learn Calculus

with Joan Horvath and Rich Cameron Author/Educators Joan Horvath and Rich Cameron join me to talk about their new book, Make: Calculus, which take a different approach to teaching and learning calculus. This book, like their previous book, Make: Geometry, relies on creating visual models created with Legos or 3D printers to teach Calculus concepts […]

Continue Reading September 5th, 2022September 20th, 2022 Dale Dougherty

A Better Way To Teach Geometry Using 3D Models

Joan Horvath and Rich Cameron, authors of Make: Geometry, explain how to use 3D models to teach geometry, which can help students visualize and grasp the basic shapes. Joan describes herself as a recovering rocket scientist who worked at JPL. Rich was an early RepRap 3D printer enthusiast. Together they have created a practical, hands-on approach to teaching geometry. Make: Books editor, Patrick DiJusto talks to Joan and Rich.

Continue Reading August 5th, 2021August 5th, 2021 Dale Dougherty

A Deep Dive Into Laser Cutter Speed And Power

One of the most complicated aspects to consider when laser-cutting is the delicate balance between translational speed and laser power. We want to cut as fast as possible, but are there times when it is best to slow down? The short answer is: “definitely yes”. We are going to share with our maker community the […]

Continue Reading March 4th, 2019March 4th, 2019 Caleb Kraft