Katie A. Hendrickson wanted to use a real-life example when teaching her class mathematics to go along with the focus of Common Core Standards for School Mathematics. This goes with using real-life examples. Where she teaches the issue of fracking is on the rise because land there has been found where fracking can be done. She goes on to explain tracking, extracting natural gas from the Earth. The biggest issue of using this topic is because it is a "hot topic" for where they live and controversial. Hendrickson's choice of fracking is an awesome idea because it gets the students thinking about a topic that is close to them and let's them form their own opinions and understand the process.
Next she talks about how she taught the subject. She starts with having the students basically do a "plug and chug" sheet of formulas using percentages. Once she sees this is flawed she moved the work to be inquiry based. I absolutely loved this idea and seeing it used in real-life. I struggle with making inquiry based lessons so it's motivating to see an example. The students got to come up with ideas, research, and cut down their lists to having only math questions. The student got to modify their questions as they went and as needed.
I think this whole project would be so motivating for students because it is an issue that is something they know about, in their lives, they get to come up with their own math equations and questions, and present their findings to the class. I really loved this article and the ideas presented in it.
http://www.nctm.org/Publications/mathematics-teaching-in-middle-school/2015/Vol20/Issue6/Fracking_-Drilling-into-Math-and-Social-Justice/
Next she talks about how she taught the subject. She starts with having the students basically do a "plug and chug" sheet of formulas using percentages. Once she sees this is flawed she moved the work to be inquiry based. I absolutely loved this idea and seeing it used in real-life. I struggle with making inquiry based lessons so it's motivating to see an example. The students got to come up with ideas, research, and cut down their lists to having only math questions. The student got to modify their questions as they went and as needed.
I think this whole project would be so motivating for students because it is an issue that is something they know about, in their lives, they get to come up with their own math equations and questions, and present their findings to the class. I really loved this article and the ideas presented in it.
http://www.nctm.org/Publications/mathematics-teaching-in-middle-school/2015/Vol20/Issue6/Fracking_-Drilling-into-Math-and-Social-Justice/
Thanks Sarah:)
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