Brian+Jacovina+-+Inquiry+Activity

First I would like to appologize for my late post. I have been sick all week and that is why I was not in class on Wednesday. I sent the Dr. Criscione an email on Wednesday morning but should have sent it to you guys as well. Again, I appologize. Here is my Inquiry Activity.

Keeping th Books

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1. I completed an activity called "Keeping the Book." This is an activity that shows students how to managage a checkbook. In the first activity yo must categorize certain expenses that one may have. These include rent, food, salraries, etc. In the next activity, the students keep track of fincances. In some cases the students are performing addition and subraction. In other cases the studetns must find missing numbers. The last activity makes the students stick to a budget. I like the activity and think it is good because it covers a few areas and has you do an "on your own" activity at the end. The "on your own" activity ask the students how they spend their money and to make a list of expense categories. It has the students use catergories to track their spending for a month and see what category they spend the most and least amount of money. It then tells them to make a chart using this information. A monthly budget can then be created through these excercises.

2a. The NYS Standard for this ativity is:

"Problem Solving"

-Students will build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving. -Students will solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts. -Students will monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving.

"Connections Strand"

-Students will recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics.
2b. National Education Technology Standards:

Standard 1: Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students: -apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. -create original works as a means of personal or group expression. -use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. -identify trends and forecast possibilities.

Standard 4 : Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students: -identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation. -plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project. -collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions. -use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.

3. I believe that this is a great excercise to do with a group of students. I enjoyed how the excercise just did not focus on one area of math but touched on a few areas. I believe that it truly made students think and really search for the answers. The questions asked were fair but challenging at the same time. I believe that activities which put students in real life situations are the best activities. This enables students to do the task and make them think about how this can affect them in their life outside the classroom as well. I especially believe that this is key in a subject like math which tends to be a subject that many students do not enjoy and think they do not need to know certain material.

I believe that the best part of the activity was the "on your own" part of the activity. This part I would make mandatory if I was to do this in my classroom. The students are taking what they learned in the class and the activity and expanding on it. They are realizing on their own how this material they just leanred is preparing them for the future and will help them in real life situations. This always helps with keeping interest which is part of the battle of teaching our students.