The Scout Report -- Volume 27, Number 12

Created by Samantha Holmes, a graduate student completing a degree in public history at Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario), Sounds of COVID poses the question, "What can we learn from the soundscape of a pandemic?" Visitors can listen to Sounds of COVID at the link above,on the website or on Soundcloud. There are about 70 tracks. Most were collected by Holmes, though some come from other contributors across Canada and the midwestern United States. Sounds span various themes, including: creativity (e.g., vocals with piano accompaniment), creatures (e.g., cats and birds), commutes (e.g., ambient sounds in city parks), cooking (e.g., pancakes on a griddle), and chats (via Zoom, of course). Readers may want to wrap up their listening experience by reading Holmes's "Final Reflection on 'Sounds of COVID' Project," available on the Blog page (under More). [DS]

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A free offering that is part of a larger for-fee UI course, this palette generator is a handy online tool that quickly creates a set of colors especially designed to make any data visualization, such as pie charts, bar charts, and maps, more effective. Data Viz Palette is similar to Happy Hues (featured in the 04-17-2020 Scout Report) and other online color pickers out there in that users can select criteria, quickly generate a set of colors, and then either copy the color hexcodes or export as SVG for use in a project. Options include palettes, single hue, and divergent, with three to eight colors. It is also possible to click into the color blocks presented and change the range of colors, for example, from blues to golds. A bonus feature of the site is that, unlike some other color pickers, Data Viz lets users see what their colors look like on a dark or light background. However, the platform does not check for accessibility. Users should be careful about the potential to generate a color palette with very dark colors on a very dark background (and vice-versa), resulting in a lack of contrast that might be difficult for some viewers to perceive. Other online tools, such as web accessibility contrast checkers, can help out there. [DS]

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England's National Museum of Computing preserves Britain's computing legacy and highlights monumental moments in computing history (for example, the creations of the first electronic computer and the oldest working digital computer). Largely in response to COVID closures, the museum is now going global (virtually, at least). Accessible via desktop computer, tablet, smartphone, or virtual reality headset, this virtual tour invites visitors to explore the "world's largest collection of working historic computers," from the comfort of their own device. Visitors will want to click the embedded video-like image at the link above to get started. This will bring up the matterport platform that houses the tour. The first thing users may notice on the platform is the box in the left-hand corner with navigation tools. Readers will want to pay particular attention to the Highlights tab, which allows users to jump to a room or section of the museum (e.g., the software gallery or the library), and Tags tab, which catalogs all of the pop-ups included throughout the virtual tour. Pop-up information is also flagged as a text script, image, or video. Viewers wishing to freely explore the virtual museum can do so by scrolling from place to place, zooming in on objects of interest, and clicking the green circles indicative of pop-up opportunities. The virtual format is supported by the MK Community Foundation's COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. [EMB]

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Sistas in STEM wants to make sure that Black women and women of color, who are too often marginalized and underrepresented within the STEM field, never feel alone. Founder Brittany A.J. Miriki works for a top tech company and launched the organization to "STEMpower" fellow Black women and women of color to achieve their own career aspirations. The collective's work focuses on a three-part mission: educate, connect, and empower. This mission is furthered through the organization's STEMpowered Women podcast, a show that introduces listeners to some incredible STEM leaders and demonstrates the range of doors that the STEM field can open, from patent law to dermatology. The Podcast page links to the various platforms where listeners can tune in. Readers will also find a Blog, which includes both recaps of podcast episodes and some independent content. The organization's social media channels include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, and these accounts are linked at the bottom of the site under "Connect With Us." In this same spot, interested readers will see an option to sign up for the Sistas in STEM mailing list. [EMB]

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The Shakespeare and Company Project demystifies the lending library launched by Sylvia Beach in 20th century Paris. Known as a refuge for writers and other creatives deemed "the Lost Generation," this writing hub quickly became world-famous. After thriving for a couple of decades, Beach preemptively closed the company following an incident where she refused to sell a book to a Nazi officer. Now, staff at Princeton University are digging into records that recreate Beach's world and share the company's story. The project's various components invite visitors to explore more than 6,000 books, read research (e.g., essays exploring gender and sexual expression and analyzing lending records), and browse membership logs. The project is led by Director Joshua Kotin (also an Associate Professor in Princeton's Department of English) and supported by The Center for Digital Humanities and the Humanities Council, among other funding partners. Readers will want to check the site often, as it is a work-in-progress. Updates are also available on the project's Twitter (@ShakesCoProject) and Instagram (@shakespeareandcoproject). [EMB]

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Visual learners may appreciate this YouTube channel that breaks down mathematics principles through digestible clips, examples, and animations. Hosted by math enthusiast Josh, Tecmath helps viewers tackle geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and more. Part of this "more" includes math magic tricks that are sure to impress (check out the I will read your mind! video posted in October of 2020). Plenty of other math problem-solving tricks are available, too. Though readers can browse the entire bevy of videos, the Playlists section serves as a useful filter. Here, readers can easily narrow by topic (e.g., "Math problems and puzzles" or "Fractions"). The content is a great learning tool for those currently enrolled in mathematics classes, but the videos are also a wonderful resource for those looking to refresh their knowledge. With manageable lengths (most videos are under 10 minutes) and thoughtful explanations, Tecmath is truly a treat. And, with more than 1 million subscribers, the message is clearly resonating with a wide audience. [EMB]

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One thing is clear: Grammy award-winning artist Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, known by his stage name Kid Cudi, loves to hum. In proving this point, Connor Rothschild's project flexes coding, data analysis, and statistics skills. Hip-hop fans will appreciate the project for its discography analysis, but even those less familiar with Kid Cudi's music can benefit from the methodology and apply it to a passion project of choice. In other words, here is proof that calculations can be creative, too. At the link above, viewers can explore findings that measure concentrations of humming, show the evolution of Cudi's humming over time, and dive into statistics by track and album. Among other options, users will discover what proportion of Kid Cudi's songs are made up of hums (notably, only 53 of the 226 of Cudi's songs on Genius omitted humming entirely). The project also reveals Cudi's preference for starting and ending his tracks with humming. Notes on Rothschild's research and coding process are available at the conclusion of the piece. [EMB]

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Math is everywhere, from architecture, to decor, to other art mediums. The emergence of STEAM principles (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) brought some attention to the relationship between math and more "traditionally" creative disciplines. Readers looking for inspiration to further explore this connection may enjoy Artful Maths. A project of Clarissa Grandi, a math educator and STEAM enthusiast, the blog and curriculum center supplies lesson plans (with handouts and presentations) and other valuable materials, freely available under a Creative Commons license. For example, the Resources page offers decor printouts and examples to brighten up math classrooms. On the Origami page, readers will find a gallery and guide to the paper folding art practice that incorporates geometric concepts. Of course, those outside of educational settings can still try out these fun and challenging art projects. Visitors will find even more ideas on the Blog, as well as the Puzzle Games page, which maintains a running list of "creative problem-solving" apps. Readers should note that some of these external apps are free, while others require a fee to download. [EMB]

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Perhaps readers have heard someone struggling with a math problem and grumbling, "When will I ever use this?" Perhaps, readers have said this themselves. We Use Math provides an answer (several answers, in fact). The site is a resource for mathematics educators and learners, and the content focuses on highlighting "careers in math" and "careers using math." A quick browse of either section makes it clear that math is foundational in a wide range of jobs. While some may be obvious (e.g., software engineers and data scientists), others may surprise readers. For example, those interested in a career that combines STEM subjects with various mediums can learn about math's role in animation, architecture, and urban planning. In addition to the career information, readers can stock up on relevant fun facts in the Math Tidbits section or explore additional content in the Blog section (including more great connections between math and multimedia, such as a link to a fascinating photo essay on the art within mathematics chalkboards). Educators will also want to check out the Resources for Teachers tab, which includes curriculum ideas, activities, classroom decor, and more. We Use Math is sponsored by Brigham Young University's Mathematics Department. [EMB]

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Founded by Desiree Harrison, a math educator and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board member, Kids Math Talk is part podcast, part blog, and all about math. The site serves as a resource for educators and caregivers who are searching for ways to make math accessible, active, and fun. Marvel over mathematicians with the podcast's recent focus on uplifting voices from the math community, or explore the archive for plenty of practical tips to "create a positive narrative about math and the role that it plays in our lives." The podcast element of the platform launched in June of 2020, so it unsurprisingly focuses on making math education work in online environments. Episodes are usually less than 45 minutes, and most are accompanied by a transcript of the content. Listeners will also find the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, though a benefit of following the link above is the opportunity to explore the other site features; for example, readers will find a collection of math Resources (some for free, others for a fee) and a Blog. Readers can also keep up with the podcast, and Harrison's work generally, by following along on Twitter and Instagram, @Kidsmathtalk. [EMB]

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Serving millions of students, youcubed (last highlighted in the 07-14-2017 Scout Report) remains a magnificent mathematics resource for educators and caregivers. Plus, the site offers several creative resources to make math enjoyable and understandable for all students; check out the Maths and Art section under Tasks for one such example.

From Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, youcubed is a center dedicated to providing research-based resources for teaching mathematics. On its website, mathematics instructors will find a number of resources that may be of interest, including lesson plans, teaching strategies, research papers, articles, podcasts, and other tools for success. Perhaps a good place to start is on the Ideas tab, where readers will find suggestions for incorporating visual learning in the math classroom, strategies for facilitating group work, and reflections about how to conduct assessments in the math classroom. For some hands-on learning ideas, check out the Tasks tab, which highlights recommended mathematics apps and games. Math teachers and math education researchers may be interested in the Evidence section, which provides research and impact papers. Many of these resources are authored by Jo Boaler, co-founder of youcubed and Professor of Education at Stanford. [MMB] [EMB]

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