1. Project-Based Learning for Math Leslie A. Texas leslie@leslietexasconsulting.com July 12, 2010 Philadelphia, PA

2. KEEPING IN TOUCH Website: http://leslietexasconsulting.com Phone: (502) 253-1844 office (502) 777-5312 cell

3. PBL engages students in complex, real-world problem solving… … is Academically Rigorous …is Relevant …uses Active Learning WHAT IS PROJECT-BASED LEARNING? PBL

4. ACTIVITY versus PROJECT Establish an AUDIENCE and a PURPOSE for the work “The Bridge Project”

5. THE SIX A’s OF DESIGNING PROJECTS  AUTHENTICITY  ACADEMIC RIGOR  APPLIED LEARNING  ACTIVE EXPLORATION  ADULT RELATIONSHIPS  ASSESSMENT PRACTICES Developed by Adria Steinberg, Jobs For the Future. Used by permission.

6. AUTHENTICITY Real world context Issues that matter to students Real and appropriate audience  AUTHENTICITY  ACADEMIC RIGOR  APPLIED LEARNING  ACTIVE EXPLORATION  ADULT RELATIONSHIPS  ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

7. ACADEMIC RIGOR High-order thinking skills and methods of inquiry from academic and professional fields Aligned with state content standards  AUTHENTICITY  ACADEMIC RIGOR  APPLIED LEARNING  ACTIVE EXPLORATION  ADULT RELATIONSHIPS  ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

8. APPLIED LEARNING Teamwork Communication Product design Problem-solving Self-management skills Information collection, organization and analysis  AUTHENTICITY  ACADEMIC RIGOR  APPLIED LEARNING  ACTIVE EXPLORATION  ADULT RELATIONSHIPS  ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

9. ACTIVE EXPLORATION Experiences beyond the classroom Field-based investigations Community exploration Expert interviews Internships  AUTHENTICITY  ACADEMIC RIGOR  APPLIED LEARNING  ACTIVE EXPLORATION  ADULT RELATIONSHIPS  ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

10. ADULT RELATIONSHIPS Adult mentors Experts in the field Guest artists Community panels  AUTHENTICITY  ACADEMIC RIGOR  APPLIED LEARNING  ACTIVE EXPLORATION  ADULT RELATIONSHIPS  ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

11. ASSESSMENT PRACTICES Exhibitions of work Variety of assessment tools Professional standards of performance Student involvement in creating criteria for project (rubric)  AUTHENTICITY  ACADEMIC RIGOR  APPLIED LEARNING  ACTIVE EXPLORATION  ADULT RELATIONSHIPS  ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

12. ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION JUDGMENT Exhibitions, Demonstrations UNDERSTANDING (Application of knowledge ) Portfolios, Journals, Observations REFLECTION (Growth over time) KNOWLEDGE (Mastery) Tests, Quizzes, Reports, Recitations

13. “The Math Dude” Mike DeGraba, Math Dude Montgomery County Public Schools Rockville, MD http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/department s/itv/mathdude/

14. “The Math Dude” Topics: Graphic Representations Solving One-Step Equations Solving Multi-Step Equations Solving Inequalities Matrices The Mean

15. “The Math Dude” Topics: The Median & Box and Whiskers Probability Sample Spaces Laws of Exponents Dividing Monomials Polynomial Operations

16. “The Math Dude” Topics: Multiplying Polynomials Factoring Solving Equations by Factoring Graphing Parabolas Solving Quadratic Equations Exponential Functions Properties of Functions

17. Rhythm, Rhyme, Results Math raps that include the following songs: Rise Up (Run Out), Don’t Be Negative, (Pump Up the) Volume, It’s All in the Surface, Circumference (It Just Makes Sense, How Do I (Work with Fractions)? Fractions and Decimals, The Standard System, Meters, Liters, and Grams, Inversion http://www.educationalrap.com/about

18. Chorus If I need to measure up a clock (circumference) Measure the post on a dock (circumference) If I’m buying rims for a car (circumference) Hey, yo, 2πr! (It just makes sense) If I need to measure up a hat (circumference) Spinnin’ records like that (circumference) If I need to pick the right jar (circumference) Hey, yo, 2πr! (It just makes sense) Circumference

19. Verse I Check out and see all the round things you can find So many circles out there, it will blow your mind It can be hard to measure distance around But once you use a little math you can figure it out If you need to find the distance around a circle shape All you need is one formula and a measuring tape Then you measure up the radius so you can figure out ‘Cause twice that radius times π is what a circle’s all about Circumference

20. Chorus If I need to measure up a clock (circumference) Measure the post on a dock (circumference) If I’m buying rims for a car (circumference) Hey, yo, 2πr! (It just makes sense) If I need to measure up a hat (circumference) Spinnin’ records like that (circumference) If I need to pick the right jar (circumference) Hey, yo, 2πr! (It just makes sense) Circumference

21. Verse II You know that every circle—if it’s big or little— Has one single point that’s right in the middle So you start on one edge, draw a straight line Right through the center and to the other side That’s the diameter. And half of that is the radius That’s the crucial number that we need to figure this out Then we multiply it by 2π Circumference, 2πr, there’s no need to ask why Circumference

22. EXEMPLAR The National Math Trail http://www.nationalmathtrail.org/ Kay Toliver Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y72vMM5JIeI

23. EXEMPLAR Other Math Trail Examples School: Shelby County High School, Alabama Building a Ramp Example http://www.shelbyed.k12.al.us/tech/mathtrail/schsramp/schsintro.htm

24. EXEMPLAR The Urban Plan Project http://www.edutopia.org/print/1450 Article describing the project Student video sample http://www.edutopia.org/developing-minds

25. EXEMPLAR United States Military Academy West Point, NY Bridge Building Contest http://bridgecontest.usma.edu/

26. EXEMPLAR Mount Lake Terrace High School, Seattle, WA Geometry Project Eeva Reeder, teacher Article http://www.edutopia.org/geometry-real-world-students-architects Video http://www.edutopia.org/mountlake-terrace-high-school

27. RESOURCE Intel in Education http://www97.intel.com/en/ProjectDesign “Designing Effective Projects : Project-Based Units to Engage Students”. This site contains a collection of exemplary Unit Plans that integrate technology into classroom projects.

28. RESOURCE Applied Calculus (real world problems NOT projects) http://www.zweigmedia.com/RealWorld/tccalcp.html http://www.zweigmedia.com/RealWorld/cprob/cprobintro.html