Designers

• Kathryn Blewis
• Michelle Brown
• Beth Conley
• Jamie Donnelly
• Patrick Dorsey
• Ellen Doyle
• Chris Fleming
• Nancy Herb
• Johanna Hoelzle
• Kate Nelson
• Theresa Nurek
• Theresa Ponte
• Eileen Stec
• Doug Stofflet

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What can I use Geometry for?

Designer: Theresa Nurek

My project is called “What can I use Geometry for?” This is a question that I am faced with at least once a week. In this project my students will research professions and/or sports that use geometry.

The following are the learning needs that I think are appropriate for my project…

• Conceptual understanding is an important factor in proficiency; students need to understand “why”. This is the main reason for doing this project. If students don’t understand why geometry is important to learn, then I have not done my job as a teacher. Students need to see the importance especially since most of my students will be going to a vocational school or a community college when they graduate. This project will be beneficial for these students so that they can explore many careers.
• By doing this project students will connect knowledge with something that they can use in everyday life. For my students to learn a concept, they must be able to apply it as a tool and/or be able to see how they can use it. This is another reason why I am doing this project; so that my students can apply topics that we have learned to a possible career that they would like to know about and/or learn how different sports use it.
• Students’ understanding can be developed through problem solving, reasoning, and investigation. Students can learn a lot through research, which is why I want my students to explore the many possibilities geometry can be used.

Target Population

• My target population will be High School students. Currently I am teaching an Informal Geometry class, which I plan to do this project with my students. Their ages range from 15 to 18 years old. Since I teach a lower level Geometry class, I have a mixture of sophomores, juniors, and seniors, which is why I have a range of ages/students.

Teaching Standards

The following standards were copied from my school’s curriculum guide for mathematics.

• 2.9 Geometry
• D. I. Find and describe geometric figures in real life.
• F. I. Identify symmetry in nature.
• F. II. Find familiar solids in the environment and describe them.
• G. IV. Solve problems using analytic geometry.
• I. IV. Model situations geometrically to formulate and solve problems.

The following standards were copied from the PA Dept. of Education Website

• 1.8.11 Research
  • A. Select and refine a topic for research.
  • Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies.
    • Determine valid resources for researching the topic, including primary and secondary sources.
    • Evaluate the importance and quality of the sources.
    • Select sources appropriate to the breadth and depth of the research (e.g., dictionaries, thesauruses, other reference materials, interviews, observations, computer databases).
    • Use tables of contents, indices, key words, cross-references and appendices.
    • Use traditional and electronic search tools
  • C. Organize, summarize and present the main ideas from research.
    • Take notes relevant to the research topic.
    • Develop a thesis statement based on research.
    • Anticipate readers’ problems or misunderstandings.
    • Give precise, formal credit for others’ ideas, images or information using a standard method of documentation.
    • Use formatting techniques (e.g., headings, graphics) to aid reader understanding.

Teaching & Learning Theory

I feel that I will be using the following learning theories in this project, which are…

• Behavioral – Before the project, I will be instructing my students on different professions and the many sports that use geometry. This will be my introduction to the project to guide students along. I will also need to teach my students on how a webquest works.
• Information Processing – Once I get my students started they will be on their own to research on the professions and sports that use geometry. This part of the project is totally the students’ responsibility.
• Constructivist – When the project is done, students will have to put a presentation, poster or report together to explain what they have found in their research.

Products

• Teaching Tool (html file)
• Assessment Rubric (html file)

Multimedia Design Tools

• MS Word