Since 1996, we have developed thirteen instructional materials for use in high school mathematics classrooms. Each module develops secondary mathematics concepts in real-world contexts drawn from the field of operations research. These applications span the spectrum of organizations: from Bethlehem Steel to Ponderosa Plywood of Mexico, from Hertz to HP, from routing Meals-on-Wheels to routing Special Ed school buses. The activities build on the basic math concepts that all high school students study in algebra and many see in an introductory probability or discrete mathematics course. They are aligned with NCTM's Principles and Standards. You can download a student activity from the Modules' page but most of the teacher's guide material appears only in the book Does This Line Ever Move? Everyday Applications of Operations Research (click to buy). These activities are regularly presented in workshops for high school math teachers around the country. If you would like to request a regional workshop, click here.
To learn more about operations research click "What is OR".
