As Big As Can Be
The introductory videos introduce students to a complete unit of work, a study of quadratic functions. The unit starts with a geometric optimisation problem (paper folding) that prompts students to ask the question “is that as big as can be?” …
The wind in your sails (ClassPad)
This is a replacement unit to facilitate the teaching and learning of right-angle triangle trigonometry. The students begin by ‘learning’ how to sail a boat and then engage with various aspects of sailing and as a result learn about the fundamental trigonometric ratios. The unit comes with pre-made ClassPad Geometry files that enable the students to sail virtual boats, collect data on their sailing and through this learn about trigonometric ratios. The unit includes traditional learning and problems as well as some not so traditional learning.
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A prime experience (ClassPad)
Many students know what a prime number is, but outside of that and perhaps prime factorisation what else do they do (in school) with these amazing creatures? This unit charts a path for students through the prime’s landscape along which they discover sexy primes (among others), prove and generally get to behave very much like a mini-mathematician. Workshops on this unit have been offered in a number of states previously. We do not think you will have seen a tried and proven learning sequence like this before.
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Describing change (ClassPad)
This replacement unit introduces algebraic models (linear and simple exponential) to describe change in the world around us. The fitting of models to bivariate data is approached via the underlying properties of constant additive or multiplicative change. The unit contains a wealth of data drawn from a range of aspects of the modern world. Extensive notes are provided on the use of ClassPad technology. A .vcp file contains all unit’s data in a Spreadsheet, and also as Statistics variables.
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CG514 Finding x and y values using a graph
This short video shows how to determine a function’s x and y values from its graph, using the Graph app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented.
CG515 Changing a graph’s View Window
This short video shows how to change a graph’s View Window, using the Graph app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator, and discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of different View Window settings. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions are presented.
CG115 Performing trigonometric calculations
This short video shows how to perform trigonometric calculations using the Run-Matrix app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator in order to solve simple trigonometric equations. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions are presented.
Optimisation (ClassPad)
When studying quadratic functions/calculus, do too many of your students find ‘optimisation questions’ hard? Have you ever wondered why? The booklet you can download here is the unit of work that supports the ideas presented in a number of workshops during 2011 and 2012 that outlined why students find the ideas hard. Basically, traditional teaching-and-doing approaches fail to focus on what is really happening: the measurement on one dimension and the subsequent calculation of other dimensions. Also, algebraic simplification turns out to be the devil – the patterns in the symbols are lost and so generalisation is not ‘seen’! The approach in the booklet supports the idea of each student developing a calculation and then comparing and contrasting to it other’s calculations – it is in this that the symbolic patterns appear and the generalisation literally reveals itself.
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Generosity – an approach to fractions and percentages.
This unit uses the context of generosity to introduce a need to have a fractional way of thinking about something.
It develops a way of thinking about fractions – the for-every idea – that is the elusive multiplicative model.
Developed over about 5 years, this approach has been tried and seems to work. 🙂
CGA21 Finding the roots of polynomials
This short video shows how to find the roots of a polynomial function up to degree 6, using the Equation app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented.