Project-Based Learning for Math
Leslie A. Texas
leslie@leslietexasconsulting.com
July 12, 2010
Philadelphia, PA
KEEPING IN TOUCH
Website:
http://leslietexasconsulting.com
Phone:
(502) 253-1844 office
(502) 777-5312 cell
WHAT IS PROJECT-BASED LEARNING?
PBL engages
students in
complex,
real-world
problem
solving…
… is Academically Rigorous
…is Relevant
PBL
…uses Active Learning
ACTIVITY versus PROJECT
Establish an AUDIENCE and a PURPOSE
for the work
“The Bridge Project”
THE SIX A’s OF DESIGNING PROJECTS
 AUTHENTICITY
 ACADEMIC RIGOR
 APPLIED LEARNING
 ACTIVE EXPLORATION
 ADULT RELATIONSHIPS
 ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
Developed by Adria Steinberg, Jobs For the Future. Used by permission.
AUTHENTICITY
Real world context
Issues that matter to
students
Real and appropriate
audience
 AUTHENTICITY
 ACADEMIC RIGOR
 APPLIED LEARNING
 ACTIVE EXPLORATION
 ADULT RELATIONSHIPS
 ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
ACADEMIC RIGOR
 AUTHENTICITY
 ACADEMIC RIGOR
 APPLIED LEARNING
 ACTIVE EXPLORATION
 ADULT RELATIONSHIPS
 ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
High-order thinking
skills and methods of
inquiry from
academic and
professional fields
Aligned with state
content standards
APPLIED LEARNING
Teamwork
Communication
Product design
Problem-solving
Self-management skills
Information collection,
organization and analysis
 AUTHENTICITY
 ACADEMIC RIGOR
 APPLIED LEARNING
 ACTIVE EXPLORATION
 ADULT RELATIONSHIPS
 ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
ACTIVE EXPLORATION
Experiences beyond the
classroom
Field-based investigations
Community exploration
Expert interviews
Internships
 AUTHENTICITY
 ACADEMIC RIGOR
 APPLIED LEARNING
 ACTIVE EXPLORATION
 ADULT RELATIONSHIPS
 ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
ADULT RELATIONSHIPS
 AUTHENTICITY
 ACADEMIC RIGOR
 APPLIED LEARNING
 ACTIVE EXPLORATION
 ADULT RELATIONSHIPS
 ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
Adult mentors
Experts in the field
Guest artists
Community panels
ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
 AUTHENTICITY
 ACADEMIC RIGOR
 APPLIED LEARNING
 ACTIVE EXPLORATION
 ADULT RELATIONSHIPS
 ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
Exhibitions of work
Variety of assessment
tools
Professional standards
of performance
Student involvement
in creating criteria for
project (rubric)
ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION
Tests, Quizzes,
Reports,
Recitations
KNOWLEDGE
(Mastery)
JUDGMENT
Exhibitions,
Demonstrations
UNDERSTANDING
REFLECTION
(Application of knowledge)
(Growth over time) Journals,
Portfolios,
Observations
“The Math Dude”
Mike DeGraba, Math Dude
Montgomery County Public Schools
Rockville, MD
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/department
s/itv/mathdude/
“The Math Dude”
Topics:
• Graphic Representations
• Solving One-Step Equations
• Solving Multi-Step Equations
• Solving Inequalities
• Matrices
• The Mean
“The Math Dude”
Topics:
• The Median & Box and Whiskers
• Probability
• Sample Spaces
• Laws of Exponents
• Dividing Monomials
• Polynomial Operations
“The Math Dude”
Topics:
• Multiplying Polynomials
• Factoring
• Solving Equations by Factoring
• Graphing Parabolas
• Solving Quadratic Equations
• Exponential Functions
• Properties of Functions
Rhythm, Rhyme, Results
Math raps that include the following songs: Rise
Up (Run Out), Don’t Be Negative, (Pump Up the)
Volume, It’s All in the Surface, Circumference (It
Just Makes Sense, How Do I (Work with Fractions)?
Fractions and Decimals, The Standard System,
Meters, Liters, and Grams, Inversion
http://www.educationalrap.com/about
Circumference
Chorus
If I need to measure up a clock (circumference)
Measure the post on a dock (circumference)
If I’m buying rims for a car (circumference)
Hey, yo, 2πr! (It just makes sense)
If I need to measure up a hat (circumference)
Spinnin’ records like that (circumference)
If I need to pick the right jar (circumference)
Hey, yo, 2πr! (It just makes sense)
Circumference
Verse I
Check out and see all the round things you can find
So many circles out there, it will blow your mind
It can be hard to measure distance around
But once you use a little math you can figure it out
If you need to find the distance around a circle shape
All you need is one formula and a measuring tape
Then you measure up the radius so you can figure out
‘Cause twice that radius times π is what a circle’s all about
Circumference
Chorus
If I need to measure up a clock (circumference)
Measure the post on a dock (circumference)
If I’m buying rims for a car (circumference)
Hey, yo, 2πr! (It just makes sense)
If I need to measure up a hat (circumference)
Spinnin’ records like that (circumference)
If I need to pick the right jar (circumference)
Hey, yo, 2πr! (It just makes sense)
Circumference
Verse II
You know that every circle—if it’s big or little—
Has one single point that’s right in the middle
So you start on one edge, draw a straight line
Right through the center and to the other side
That’s the diameter. And half of that is the radius
That’s the crucial number that we need to figure this out
Then we multiply it by 2π
Circumference, 2πr, there’s no need to ask why
EXEMPLAR
The National Math Trail
http://www.nationalmathtrail.org/
Kay Toliver Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y72vMM5JIeI
EXEMPLAR
Other Math Trail Examples
School: Shelby County High School, Alabama
Building a Ramp Example
http://www.shelbyed.k12.al.us/tech/mathtrail/schsramp/schsintro.htm
EXEMPLAR
The Urban Plan Project
http://www.edutopia.org/print/1450
Article describing the project
Student video sample
http://www.edutopia.org/developing-minds
EXEMPLAR
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY
Bridge Building Contest
http://bridgecontest.usma.edu/
EXEMPLAR
Mount Lake Terrace High School, Seattle, WA
Geometry Project
Eeva Reeder, teacher
Article
http://www.edutopia.org/geometry-real-world-students-architects
Video
http://www.edutopia.org/mountlake-terrace-high-school
RESOURCE
Intel in Education
http://www97.intel.com/en/ProjectDesign
“Designing Effective Projects : Project-Based Units to
Engage Students”. This site contains a collection of
exemplary Unit Plans that integrate technology into
classroom projects.
RESOURCE
Applied Calculus (real world problems NOT projects)
http://www.zweigmedia.com/RealWorld/tccalcp.html
http://www.zweigmedia.com/RealWorld/cprob/cprobintro.html