Communicating Standards
By the nature of this project, the initial connection to standards will be difficult. Students are likely to be focused on the research on presentation aspects of the unit unless given more guided focus. With that in mind, we plan to introduce the unit with the standards that will be the primary focus. Each day, we will begin with the display of content standards that are the focus for that particular day (which will not be all of them). This will help guide student thinking to incorporate these mathematical ideas. Additionally, the included mini activities (such as the Class Trip, Carbon Cycle, Lemonade Mix, and Candle Lab) will include a class discussion about the involved math concepts that connect to that days' standards.
By the nature of this project, the initial connection to standards will be difficult. Students are likely to be focused on the research on presentation aspects of the unit unless given more guided focus. With that in mind, we plan to introduce the unit with the standards that will be the primary focus. Each day, we will begin with the display of content standards that are the focus for that particular day (which will not be all of them). This will help guide student thinking to incorporate these mathematical ideas. Additionally, the included mini activities (such as the Class Trip, Carbon Cycle, Lemonade Mix, and Candle Lab) will include a class discussion about the involved math concepts that connect to that days' standards.
Methods of Assessment
Each activity will conclude with a debriefing, where students will be asked to share their results and discuss the implications (mathematically as well as the biofuel objectives) with the class. The instructor will include additional guiding questions that direct student discussion to hit the standards and objectives appropriately. All activities will include some assignment which appropriately assesses the students' knowledge of these areas. The final presentation will help to act as the culmination and synthesis of all standards, objectives and skills from this unit.
Each activity will conclude with a debriefing, where students will be asked to share their results and discuss the implications (mathematically as well as the biofuel objectives) with the class. The instructor will include additional guiding questions that direct student discussion to hit the standards and objectives appropriately. All activities will include some assignment which appropriately assesses the students' knowledge of these areas. The final presentation will help to act as the culmination and synthesis of all standards, objectives and skills from this unit.
- Mathematical Content: The common core standards addressed within the activities will serve as the primary means to assess math content knowledge. In the Class Trip activity, students will be assessed on their ability to accurately compute rates using distance and mileage formulas. In the Carbon Cycle Activity, Candle Lab and Lemonade Mix students will be assessed on their ability to create a graphical representation of their data by making sure they are consistent with their axes and labels. Rubrics will be developed for students to more concisely award points for these areas.
- Biofuel Objectives: Students will be tested on their knowledge of biofuel vocabulary through their fluidity of its use within their final write-up and presentation, which will require the use of such appropriate terminology. Students will also be assessed on their ability to interpret the impact of biofuels in the debriefing responses from the Carbon Cycle Activity, the discussion on potential project recommendations, and the discussion on the future of biofuels. Some of these debriefing responses will be informal questions and some will be written and submitted responses (such as through the Exit Slips).
- 21st Century Skills: Students will be assessed primarily in this category based on their responses in Exit Slips to questions about their progress and their group progress. Collaboration is further assessed in the final project evaluation, where students will be able to discuss the efforts of their team in each of the activities. Communication is assessed through the final presentation and QA session, where each student in the group presenting must respond to a student question and speak directly about their project recommendations. Critical Thinking is addressed through the guided "why" questions in each activity and the final project. In each event where students are given choice on their outcome, they must provide an explanation regarding their decisions, which requires them to think more critically about their choices.