Learning Activity 1-A-3

Article: Improving Mathematics Teaching and Learning: How Can Principles and Standards Help?

[Forum]

20 points (15 for PowerPoint response + 5 for reply to classmate)

Now that you have looked at two important pieces of information from NCTM, you might be wondering, "What does this mean for my students and me?  How can I use this information for the betterment of my own learning and teaching?"  The required text, Navigating through Geometry, provides the opportunity to read a number of interesting research articles so that you can gain different ideas about how to apply principles and standards and focal points.

From the CD that accompanies the Navigating through Geometry book, open and read the article titled "Improving Mathematics Teaching and Learning: How Can Principles and Standards Help?" For this activity you will focus on the example problem of the "Circles-in the Square." Note, you can access all reading material from the CD by choosing "Readings." from the menu (illustrated below). Once you are in the "Reading view," this assignment's article can be found under, "More readings" on the right-hand side of the page.

 

Assignment Instructions:

Post your response as instructed below in the Forums under "Activity 1-A-3: Circle and Square." You can copy and paste the questions and answer them directly in the Forum under "1-A-3" (instructions for copying and pasting into the Forum).

1. Review the "Circles in the Square" problem.
2. Develop your own solution. Use the PowerPoint template attached to illustrate and explain your points. Note, when you click on the PowerPoint template link, you will be prompted to Open or Save the file.
3. Post your PowerPoint to the Forum under "1-A-3: Improving Mathematics Teaching."
4. In your Forum post respond to the following questions:
• Which Geometry Standards does this activity support?
• How does this exercise help reinforce the concept of proportions and proportionality in students?
5. Reply to at least one classmate's post.