Summary

For Project #1, you will see how the techniques you’ve learned for solving first-order differential equations apply to certain real-world examples. In groups, you will put together a full lesson for your classmates on these applications. Project #1 has two parts:

  1. In pairs, you will complete an assigned homework problem from the text and post your full solution on the OpenLab.
  2. As a group, you will submit a single OpenLab post with
    1. a short lesson to your topic,
    2. links to the pairs’ posts from Part 1 as examples ,
    3. one new question that everyone else in the class should complete.

Part 1: partners

Post due on the OpenLab by Monday, September 26, 11:59pm

  1. Sign up for a homework question using the sign-up sheet here (for most questions, this will pair you with a partner).
  2. Read the corresponding section and complete your homework question.
  3. Contact your partner to compare your solutions (you may direct message them on the OpenLab). If your solutions differ, discuss them until you agree.
  4. Decide which of you will post your solution on the OpenLab.
    1. The post must include both partners’ names.
    2. Your post will serve as an example for your group’s lesson; it should contain as much detail and explanation as is necessary for your classmates to understand. It will include english sentences and connecting words, not just math notation. Read Professor Francis Su’s handout on writing mathematics well.
    3. You may include photos of written work in your post, or type your work directly into the post using LaTeX (LaTeX instructions from your previous assignment are here).
  5. Title your post with “Project #1” and the textbook section and problem number. Select the category Project #1 pairs before you publish your post.

Part 2: group

Post due on the OpenLab by Monday, October 3, 11:59pm

For the group component of Project #1, your group will need a secretary. The secretary will be the one who will submit the group’s OpenLab post by the deadline. To submit this post they will copy-paste the group’s work from Part 2 and include links to the pairs’ posts from Part 1. Volunteer to serve as your group’s secretary in the sign-up sheet here. If more than one person volunteers, the group will elect a secretary.

The groups will work collaboratively outside of class time on this OpenLab post before the secretary posts it. Find your partner/group in class and exchange contact information!

The group post is a lesson on the textbook section that the whole class will read. It has three components:

  1. Lesson (this will be the longest part of the post).
    1. A few paragraphs describing the real-world example that anyone can understand. What type of problem is the section trying to solve?
    2. A description of the differential equations/equations that are used to solve the problem. What type of equations are they and what techniques can be used to solve them? What do the individual variables represent?
  2. Links to examples.
    1. Include a list with a link to each of the pairs posts from Part 1.
  3. A question for the whole class.
    1. If your classmates have read your whole lesson and read the linked examples, they should be ready to try a question on their own. Come up with a new question to help them test their understanding. These questions may appear on a future test or exam!

Some of the textbook sections have more than one type of application or equation, so your post may need to have a few different sections. Make sure the appropriate examples are grouped together and linked to the appropriate paragraph description.

Title the post “Project #1” and the title of the textbook section. Select the category Project #1 groups before you publish your post.

Grading

Half of your Project #1 grade will come from Part 1 and half will come from Part 2. here are the questions to consider:

Part 1

  • Does the post have the correct title and category?
  • Is the work organized? Is it easy to follow how the different parts of the solution are related?
  • Is the solution clear? Are there words to describe which technique is being used and to connect one step to the next?
  • Is the solution complete and correct? How does it answer the original question?

Part 2

  • Does the post have the correct title and category?
  • Is the lesson easy for someone to read? Is the description of the relevant equations complete and clear?
  • Are the examples linked to the relevant written description?
  • Is the question for the class appropriate given the lesson? Is it at a difficulty level represented by the linked examples?