Diploma Plus Curriculum Planning
Sample Math Assessment
Overview: For the end-of-unit assessment on linear
equations, you will be contributing to a single-edition
magazine that our class will be publishing and distributing to
local gyms and recreation centers in our community to explain
how the important algebraic topic of linear equations can help
to make predictions about future Olympic event outcomes.
As the magazine editor, I am assigning each of you a “Forty Years in the Future” article 1 about
an Olympic sport where you will need to examine gold medal data for that sport going back to
at least 1956 and use that data to mathematically predict the winning time (or distance, etc.)
for the Olympics forty years from now. Your article should include graphs, diagrams, charts,
photos, etc. predicting - and clearly justifying for the readers - the winning Olympic times (or
distance, etc.) forty years from now in the Women’s 500 m speed skating, the Men’s 200 m
freestyle swimming, the Men’s 400 m run, the Women’s long jump, or an Olympic or other
sport of your choice with permission.
Expectations:
The final product must be “ready for print” and submitted electronically. It should be
proofread, show the layout of the article, including all graphs, diagrams, pictures, etc. There
should be a title of the article, captions on the graphics, and be reader-friendly.
You must also submit your reflection on this assignment via the comment section of the
DiplomaPlus.net dropbox. Your reflection should explain:
 How you used what you have learned during your linear equations unit to solve this
problem
 Where else in the “real world” this mathematical knowledge be used
 What other skills you were able to learn or use in this assignment that could help you in
the future
You will be using this magazine article to show that you have learned the standards 10.P.2
Representations of a Line, 10.P.7 Model and Solve Real World Linear Problems, and 10.N.1
Properties of Real Numbers so be sure that your work shows what you know. You will be
assessed using the following Diploma Plus competencies:
For Advanced in M03: You must describe how well a linear equation models this data
and why.
1
The Futures Channel. (n.d.). thefutureschannel.com. Retrieved July 9, 2009, from Forty Years in the Future:
http://www.thefutureschannel.com/pdf/algebra/40_years_from_now.pdf
Diploma Plus National
www.diplomaplus.net
July 2011
Authentic Assessments: Page 1 of 2
Diploma Plus Curriculum Planning
Sample Math Assessment
For Advanced in M04: You must explain in the article and/or reflection how why a
particular representation (table, graph, equation) could be used to understand the
prediction and what the strengths and/or weaknesses of that representation are.
For Advanced in M05: You must communicate your mathematical findings clearly using
a variety of methods throughout their article.
For Advanced in M06: Your reflection should identify other relevant and meaningful
uses of linear equations and modeling.
For Advanced in P01: You should reflect on and make changes to your behaviors
throughout your work on this assessment that would contribute to your academic
success and describe this in your reflection.
For Advanced in P05: You would develop a written reflection that critiques the
effectiveness of your actions and explains a potentially more productive process for
your future work.
Due Date: December 11th
Resources:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/09/03/40-creative-design-layouts-gettingout-of-the-box/
http://speckyboy.com/2008/06/15/32-inspirational-examples-of-amazing-layout-andtypography/
http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Sports/
Diploma Plus National
www.diplomaplus.net
July 2011
Authentic Assessments: Page 2 of 2