The Teacher as Facilitator
This
activity is set up in a Jigsaw structure-the student groups must
break into research teams that examine one aspect of the problem,
then return to their original groups to share their findings and
put the entire "puzzle" together.
Successful
work in the two groups will require negotiation, communication,
reasoning and cooperation. The students will need to discuss mathematical
concepts and ensure that they gather relevant data. Every student
must join an expert group and research a topic. Without each member's
contribution, comparisons will be incomplete and the group will
not be able to make a recommendation.
Each
group should present its findings in a meaningful way, and should
be free to determine what methods-single speaker, written reports,
visual presentations-to use.
The
Advisory Groups should contain as broad a mix of students as possible
so different interests and abilities can be shared. They will learn
the importance of trusting team members and can call on the knowledge
of the others. Together they create a larger and better picture
of the site than they could alone.
By
choosing an industry that is relevant to the community, the students
can gather data from local sources. By enlisting community members
to serve as the board of directors, you can emphasize the importance
of mathematics to the work world.
Choosing
a Company Site: A High School Mathematics Activity
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