Transformation
My goal is to see a transformation in my students. I would like my students to begin to see math not as a boring and challenging subject that they are forced to take, but as a tool that they not only currently use, but will continue to use for the rest of their lives. This transformation of how my students view math will take time. Since this transformation will take time, I would like my students to keep a blog. This blog will be a place where they can record the different ways they use math everyday. This blog will also give students a chance to reflect back on what they have learned. This blog will be a public blog. Being public will allow my students to get feedback from others. This should affirm what they are seeing and the benefit of seeing math in the world. Also, students will be required to comment on each others blog either adding ideas or verifying what they saw.
Keeping a blog will not be the only thing that helps my students to see the importance of math. For my unit on ratios, proportions, and unit analysis, students will take part in several projects that help them see not only the importance of these topics in real life, but how simple math errors can be disastrous. The first project will have students look at different examples from history of times when a disaster almost happened due to a unit analysis mistake. Looking at different examples of how math errors caused a major problems, and in some instances put lives in danger, will hopefully help my students to see the importance of math and how math can effect real life. Throughout this process my students will be blogging about the examples of unit analysis they see in life, and how these relate back to the math we are learning about in class.
The second project that students look at will have to do with ratios and proportions. Students will apply what they learned by designing and creating a toothpick bridge. Students will design their life-sized bridge online. Once students have their bridge, they will need to scale their bridge down (using ratios and proportions) to create it with toothpicks. Creating their own bridge will allow students a chance to really apply what they learned about ratios, proportions, and unit analysis. Students will see the importance of using one measurement system and not switching between systems. At the end of this process, students will again add to their blogs, reflecting on what they learned about the importance of accuracy, and the amount of math going into building something.
Keeping a blog will not be the only thing that helps my students to see the importance of math. For my unit on ratios, proportions, and unit analysis, students will take part in several projects that help them see not only the importance of these topics in real life, but how simple math errors can be disastrous. The first project will have students look at different examples from history of times when a disaster almost happened due to a unit analysis mistake. Looking at different examples of how math errors caused a major problems, and in some instances put lives in danger, will hopefully help my students to see the importance of math and how math can effect real life. Throughout this process my students will be blogging about the examples of unit analysis they see in life, and how these relate back to the math we are learning about in class.
The second project that students look at will have to do with ratios and proportions. Students will apply what they learned by designing and creating a toothpick bridge. Students will design their life-sized bridge online. Once students have their bridge, they will need to scale their bridge down (using ratios and proportions) to create it with toothpicks. Creating their own bridge will allow students a chance to really apply what they learned about ratios, proportions, and unit analysis. Students will see the importance of using one measurement system and not switching between systems. At the end of this process, students will again add to their blogs, reflecting on what they learned about the importance of accuracy, and the amount of math going into building something.