Modeling & Tools For Math
Successful implementation of Mathematical Practices #4 & #5
Math Pratice #4: Modeling
Not only is modeling a great way to engage your students in real-world applications of math, it promotes peer-to-peer interaction, an opportunity for discovery, and embeds several of the other mathematical practices. To successfully use modeling in your math class, students should have the opportunity to do the following:
1. Estimate a solution to the problem.
2. Identify information needed and be allowed to ask questions.
3. Formulate and revise methods to solve the problem.
4. Draw conclusions about the situation based on their results.
5. Interpret the results and determine if the results make sense in the situation.
Below are a few resources to help you get started with modeling in your classroom.
- http://blog.mrmeyer.com/: Three-Act Tasks that usually begin with a video clip to engage students.
- http://illuminations.nctm.org/: Great resource for lessons that help student relate math to the real world.
- http://www.yummymath.com/: Math modeling tasks that relate to current, timely events.
Dan Meyer on Real-World Math
Math Practice #5: Using Appropriate Tools Strategically.
There's no denying that students today are tech-savvy, and that they love using technology in the classroom whenever the opportunity presents itself, so in math, it's important to not only give students tools they can use, but to provide them with the opportunities to use them strategically. This means students will know the right tool for the right problem. Futhermore, once students realize the usefulness of tools, they'll come to use them, not always as an end result, but as a way to check conjectures and validate their results.
Below are useful apps, and better yet, they're free!