Jamie's%20Journal%20Article

Elements of personal stories: Reason for investigating alternative/ explanation of alternative (first paragraph); annotated example (second paragraph)

Over the past four years I have struggled with my class of 30 eleventh grade students in Algebra 2. My students struggle on a daily basis trying to answer the question, “Why do I need to know this?” This year I plan on answering their question through the implementation of Problem-based learning. Problem-based learning starts with a complex problem encountered in the real world. This problem is the key in engaging students. Collectively, the class or groups brain storm what they know and what they need to know to create their solution. Students then go beyond their textbooks to pursue knowledge in other resources before their next group meeting. Resources students might explore, include but are not limited to, websites, blogs, learning communities, and YouTube. Through these group processes learning issues will ensue. Learning issues are the content standards that we as teachers desperately need students to retain for state standardized test. When the class encounters these learning issues, the teacher may intervene to some extent to help students gain the math content skills related to the problem. Finally, each group will prepare and present a course of action as their solution to the original problem.

The main defining trait of Problem-based Learning is that the teacher provides the real world problem. I find this alternative particularly useful in math classes because the teacher can control which math standards the class focuses on. While many standards may apply to each real world problem, the teacher can design a problem to address a specific group of standards. If the students have complete control of the problem design, each group's idea may address too many unrelated standards, making it an unrealistic alternative to standardized test prep. For example, if the goal is to teach surface area and volume, the teacher might design a real world problem asking students to invent a package for a product and choose the packing materials. Through solving this problem, students will research materials that are cost efficient and environmentally friendly. More importantly, students will use concepts of volume and surface area in designing an efficient package that maximizes the space used by the product and requires the least amount of packaging material. Problem-based Learning provides students the opportunity to explore their own ideas while allowing the teacher to guide student research through the questions posed in the problem.

To learn more about Problem-based learning as an alternative visit the links provided: Overview of PBL: @http://www.pbli.org/pbl/pbl.htm Process of PBL video: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDe74bOxXLw&feature=player_embedded

To view more examples of Problem-based learning visit the video links provided: Product Packaging Conundrum: @http://www.mrsoshouse.com/pbl/plastic.html Presenting Ecology Through Rodent Control: @http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/ecology/index.html Dan Meyer-Math Needs a Makeover video: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWUFjb8w9Ps&feature=PlayList&p=8C9FBD0CFD84029B&playnext=1&index=9 Picturing the Possibilities video: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFt6qW0Pb4c&feature=player_embedded

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