Classroom Environment
While I don't have a specific classroom of my own, I use each of the following in my classes to foster a collaborative, creative environment where students can demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
Hands on Labs
Lab Practical: Projectile Motion Goal:
Place the bucket so the steel ball lands in it, without tipping the bucket over. Rules: 1. You may not attempt to make this shot before the official trial. 2. You may take any measurements you need of the ball and the tube, or of the bucket, as long as you do not roll the ball off the table (see #1). 3. You may not monopolize the ball and the tube or the bucket; you are expected to share the toys with the other teams. |
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NerdKits
Students wire and program a microcontroller to measure the air temperature.
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Technology
Problem Based Learning
Calculus Research Log
(Shown below: student work with teacher feedback on the initial problem; problem designed as practice for formatting and metacognition needed during work of this nature.)
(Shown below: student work with teacher feedback on the initial problem; problem designed as practice for formatting and metacognition needed during work of this nature.)
Creative Projects
Derivative Song
I would like you to create a song about the derivative. It should include the limit definition of the derivative and other important information, like what a derivative means, short cuts, etc. (Use your book to help.) You will need to have lyrics written out, a tune to set them to, and a recording of you singing your song. You will then need to present your song to the class.
The Derivative Club
By: N. Botezatu " Join the Derivative Club… Verse 1 Mrs. Hamilton told me, you’ve got to know derivatives Different notations of dy/dx, f prime of x Think back to what the limit says Think back to the limit of secant line slope ways The club will enlighten you… Chorus Derivative Club, we find the slope of the function the tangent line’s slope, works in conjunctions old physics ways , come back to anoint as we describe slope as the rate of change at a point |
Verse 2 Sometimes you can use some trig to do a little southern jig Go on baby use that {sin x that goes to co-sine x} {echo} Or that {tan x that goes to secant squared x} {echo} Use and play with those shortcuts like they’re your own little fife In all that happens next in your calculus life Chorus Join the Derivative Club…" |
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