Saturday, November 21, 2009

math project (Credit Card Code (Luhn's Algorithm))

1) Sketch of the project


2) Assessment



3) Project idea: Divisibility test of numbers from 1 to 10 in base 10An enrichment project.

Grade Level: 10-12

Purpose: The students will gain better understanding of the divisibility of numbers in base 10 and the students will be challenged to think mathematically.

Description of activities: The students will first make conjectures about the divisibility for each of the numbers from 1 to 10. Then they will need to reason to themselves about why or why not the conjectures work.

Sources: N/A

Length of time project will take (in and out of class): 2 classes, 2 weeks

What students are required to produce: A poster or pamphlet of the students’ own conjectures on the divisibility test of numbers from 1 to 10 in base 10.

Handouts, graphics, etc.: N/A

Marking criteria: Number of solutions; Organization; Appropriate conjecture (i.e. not just saying to plug the numbers into the calculator…)

by Jenny Chu, Alan Hsueh, Sara Wang

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009

some memorable moments from the short practicum

First I would like to talk about the math clinic that I was participating. Basically the clinic is an after-school help for those students who struggle with math. On the day that I was helping, we had two special guests. They were two deaf students. It was my first time helping deaf students with their math homework. It was a surprise for me that they are taking math 12 and calculus. The fact that they are disadvantageous compares to other students and yet willing to take the challenge really inspired me. It is very encouraging for me to see them wanting to learn more than just what’s required. The other heart-touching moment for me was when I was observing the dance class. There’s a student with Down syndrome who was in the dance class. The teacher was teaching them how to do a full turn. This student kept on doing two 180 degrees turns instead. While it was entertaining to watch but it was the fact that he never gave up that was heart-touching. Near the end of the class, he finally figured it out. Seriously, at that moment I can feel the tears in my eyes. These were the two most memorable moments in my short practicum.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

reflection on timed writting exercise

It is a good exercise if one can think of ideas quickly, but for myself, it is not my favourite.
I usually get frustrated with it because i can't come up with ideas, i feel pressured.

Strength:
-a good way to get students actively thinking about the topic
-we can get ideas from many people
-teacher get to know what those people who are little bit shy are thinking
-get the work done quickly
-we can get some dynamic ideas

Weakness:
-time pressure
-thoughts could be really wild
-frustration can come in if can't think of anything in short period of time

division and zero

Division:
-opposite arithematic operation from multiplication
-hard
-inverse
-scary
-flip
-division of 0 => yuck

Zero:
-zero could be good and bad, "no" problem or "no" clue. it could be no mistakes or 0/100
-middle of the number line, maybe that's why it's good and bad. It could go either way
-not positive nor negative
-nothingness/emptieness
-division of 0 => yuck
-freezing point

Division by Zero poem

Division by zero

What did i just wrote

teacher says no no no

division rules doesn't hold

the answer on calculator doesn't show

it does not make sense at all

thus i do what i was told

that is,

don't talk about it at all