Assignment #6

I had several colleagues look over the project sheet, not much feedback was given but all teachers encouraged me to build my own prototype oven.  With the lack of experience in building an oven (anything for that matter), I turned to one of the other teachers who wanted to use the project herself.   With a few basic items, cardboard, foil, skewer, duct tape and graphing paper in tow, this is what we came up with--- Tah-dah!

In the process of planning this project, I think I struggle the most in is the overall outcome of the oven.  I feel that the students should be able to make their own oven without me showing them a prototype, but I will provide them the necessary tools to build the oven.   My fear in showing them a prototype will stifle and limit their creativity and would set boundaries when coming to revisions as well.

In talking to my colleagues, it was decided that the entire project would be a group effort.  The only individual work that would be done by each group would be their reflection in the end.  I also would group students according to high-medium-low.  Grouping students with mix ability levels has its advantages, as the high achievers tend to help the low achievers and I am also concerned about labeling (smart group/slow group) which can cause a potential self-esteem issue for students.  I would instruct the groups to assign specific tasks to members.   I think that although this project is a group effort, they should be responsible for at least one particular job to do within the group.  

This project is designed to be done at the end of the quarter.  As we all know, Math is linear and therefore the project is based heavily on prior knowledge.  Breaking down the activities that would bring students closer to building an oven would depend on completeness of prior assignments.  This project was not meant to be done all in one period but progressively throughout a number or days.  One day completing graphs, one day completing thinking maps, and so forth allowing students to not feel overwhelmed with the components of this project.

Revisions would be encouraged at every step of the project, overlooking their progress will affect the overall outcome of the construction of the oven. Using conferences with each group would be beneficial for students as they would get immediate feedback from me to make sure that they are on the right track.

Assessing these benchmarks I have included a rubric to which students will have in their packets to know what is expected of them.