Category: Course Activities (Page 2 of 4)

OpenLab Assignment: Proof Journal

Your assignment for the coming week+ is to try to prove the conjecture that your group created in class on Tuesday, 10/20 (10/20 working space (Google Doc) with group conjectures is here).  You may need to refine/expand your conjecture first (let’s discuss this in class).   You must spend at least 90 minutes working on this.  Trying to prove something can consist of many different activities, such as the following (you do NOT have to do all of these things – you can choose how to spend your time – they are provided for inspiration only).

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In-Class Activity 10/20/20 – Make and Test Conjectures

GROUP ASSIGNMENTS:
Group 1: Jack, Jodel, Denyese
Group 2: Allison, Matt, Erica
Group 3: Amy, Irina, Jared
Group 4: Chris, Ihn, Luis


10/20 working space (Google Doc)

NOTE: As a component of the OpenLab assignment “Lockhart’s Lament” (due 10/20), each person should bring to class a conjecture or question about the Bridges and Walking Tours game.

Group Activity (30 min).  

Get into your groups, and take 30 minutes to complete the following steps:

1.  Choose one person in your group to be the host.

HOST REQUIREMENTS:

  • Share screen.
  • Use Google Docs.

2. The host should open up the 10/20 working space (Google Doc). Each person should share their conjecture with the group.  For each conjecture, the group should decide if they think it is true or false (or don’t know).  

3. The host should record the each member’s conjecture, as well as the group’s conclusion for each conjecture, in the Google Doc. (Conjectures can be typed directly into the document, or an image can be uploaded to the document)

4. Choose one conjecture (or create a new one) to focus on as a group.  Your goal for the next few weeks will be to try to prove or disprove this conjecture.  Come up with several ideas about how you might prove it.

Group work due after 30 minutes:  Each group will record their work in 10/20 working space (Google Doc), including the names of the group members, the date, and the following:

  • Each member’s conjecture, along with a brief description of what the group thinks – is it true or false?
  • What is the conjecture that your group has chosen to work on? Be sure to indicate it clearly in the Google Doc (if you have created a new conjecture to work on as a group, please put it in the Doc).
  • Two different ideas about how you might try to prove the chosen conjecture.

Reflection:  To be completed individually after group work is complete, and submitted via the form below.  Take 5 minutes to write on the following prompt:

Briefly reflect on the process of working in a group by responding to each of these points:
1.  Describe something you learned.
2.  Describe something you contributed to the group.
3.  How did today’s work change your understanding of the “bridges and walking tours” game?

Group Work Reflection 10/20/20

  • Did your group experience any problems with technology during today’s group work? If so, give a brief description.
  • Briefly reflect on the process of working in a group by responding to each of these points: 1. Describe something you learned. 2. Describe something you contributed to the group. 3. How did today’s work change your understanding of the bridges and walking tours game?

Student Survey results

Hi everyone,

Thanks for participating in the “Day 10 Survey” – this was very helpful for me to understand how our class activities look like from your perspective, what’s working and what’s not. I wanted to share the (aggregated, anonymous) results here, and talk about coming adjustments:

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OpenLab Assignment: Lockhart’s Lament

In 2002, a mathematician named Paul Lockhart wrote an essay called “A Mathematician’s Lament,” a passionate criticism of mathematics education in America.  It has become widely known among mathematicians and mathematics educators – not everyone agrees with everything he says (though many do), but everyone seems to have something to say about “Lockhart’s Lament,” as it is called.  For this week’s assignment, you will read a short excerpt (three pages) from his essay and respond to the prompts below.

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