Department of Mathematics Education
EMAT 6700, J. Wilson
EMAT
6700
J. Matt Tumlin
Contextual teaching and
learning is appealing to me, because I have personally witnessed how
traditional teaching methods have detached mathematics from the real world,
thus losing many students’ interest.
Contextual teaching intrigues me because of the assistance it renders in
student retention. Below are contextual
projects that I can use in my classroom which incorporate technology with
mathematics.
CTL Activities
Bouncing Ball
Included in this activity
are graphing scatter-plots, linear equations, finding the line of best fit, and
using a graphing calculator. Students
will accomplish this by answering the question does a bouncing ball follow a linear
pattern?
This project uses a
Florist’s predicament of how to minimize cost and maximize profit with systems of equations and
systems of inequalities. Students will be asked to
explain the meaning of various systems of equations and inequalities. Then they will graph the systems and use the
graphs to find the optimal floral arrangements to sell.
This project uses
class-generated data to forecast experimental probability. You will examine the
possible outcomes that occur from throwing a single die and a pair of
dice. Included in the lab are probability,
frequency, and histograms.
This project uses average
speeds from the
In this activity, students
are introduced to a spreadsheet. They
will explore cells and functions by setting up a spreadsheet, entering data into it, and
using the spreadsheet’s functions to analyze the data. They also will see how the spreadsheet can be
used to make a graph of the data.
Students will use the
composite of f and g, f(g(x)), to model a
familiar computational game. They will
further investigate composition in relation to the graphs of parent
functions. This activity uses function
compositions, function computations, graphing functions, and the use of a
graphing calculator.
Pulse Lab
Students will find their resting heart rate, exercise
heart rate, and recovery heart rate to represent positive and negative numbers
and find the class average rates. This lab activity
incorporates group activity and class generated data to review addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division of integers
Rate
and Distance
Students will measure the time required for
battery-powered cars to travel a measured distance, and calculate the speed of
the cars. Based on the comparisons, a
winner of the race will be predicted. An
actual race will test the validity of the prediction. This event incorporates group activity and
generated data with substitution and evaluation of formulas.
SAT
This project uses the
percentile rank of SAT scores from the year 2002 to incorporate patterns in
data. Students will use algebra to describe and
analyze such patterns. Included in this activity
are graphing scatter-plots, patterns, graphing with coordinates, representing linear patters, and
correlations.
Super Value
Super Value and Big Bargain
are having back to school sales, and students must use the flyers to compare
values of each item. They will then compare
the values of sale items and calculate the savings and compute the percent
saved.
Trail Of Tears
Use the provided information
about the Native Americans ceding their homelands to the
Trail Mix
This project uses a camping
supply store’s predicament of manufacturing trail mix to minimize cost and maximize
profit with
systems of equations. Students will be asked to
explain the meaning of various systems of equations and inequalities. Then they will graph the systems and use the
graphs to find the optimal the optimal way to manufacture trail mix.
Wasting Water
Wasting Water is an activity
in which students gather data by measuring the amount of water that leaks
through a hole in the bottom of a cup to find a trend. Students are asked to make a scatter plot of
the amount of water by time and approximate a line of best fit. Then they research the same set of data with
Excel spreadsheet and find a linear equation that models it.