Project Title:
Earn your Extra Credit!
Introduction:
I am planning to create different web pages that contain many different
math problems that are basic and fundamental so that students can practice
and develop in basic skills as their extra credit.
Background:
I taught Algebra I for a year at a high school last year. I found
myself very frustrated with students who did not have fundamental math
skills that they should have mastered in younger ages. Students with
better arithmetic skills could get engaged more into lessons and they would
more likely to be willing to be challenged in different ways. I firmly
believe students can get involved more in math classes if they do not have
to worry about fundamental arithmetic skills. I’ve been thinking
about this since I started teaching. I think it’s a good idea because
it would motivate students for some extra credit and it would be more fun
than doing paper and pencil type of practices.
Topic:
1. Multiplication table
2. Division
3. Fractions
4. Decimal
5. Simple linear equations
Planning:
I don’t have any specific idea about how I would try to do my
project, but Sue Cooper responded (thankfully!) to my help ad and she gave
me this web site address:
http://www.aplusmath.com/Flashcards
This web site has lots of flashcards that students can practice basic
math skills and it would keep scores also. I don’t want to make my
project that fancy, but I will surely look into the HTML that was used
to design that program.
Actually, I might not even have the web page itself to grade what they did. I might just have them print it out and give to me.
Evaluation:
There will be students who already have mastered these skills.
Even them, I think they can use these pages to practice even more.
They will not lose anything practicing them.
Students who are getting A’s in class will be advantaged about 5% for
their final grade. Students who are getting B’s in class will be
advantaged about 7%, C’s will be advantaged 10%, D’s will be advantaged
13% and F’s will be advantaged 15% if they complete the program.
Accuracy is important in turning them in, of course. If they get
more than two wrongs, then I won’t count that page as completed.
They can redo it and turn in again.
Tools:
Netscape Composer