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Quia: Battleship (Combining Like Terms)

 

Curator:  William Stremple

 

Name & Link to tech tool: http://www.quia.com/ba/28820.html

 

Brief description of tool:  Battleship allows students to incorporate a favorite childhood strategy game with simplifying expressions.  Students play against the computer to 'sink' all of the ships.  A hit only counts when an expression is simplified correctly.

 

Technical cost & considerations:  This applet is free and does not require any additional technology.

 

EVALUATION

 

Description of Learning Activity:  Students play the game Battleship against the computer with a twist.  After each 'hit' students are asked to simplify an expression.  If they choose the correct answer, the 'hit' registers, but if they are incorrect, it does not count towards sinking the ship.  There are three difficulty levels for students to differentiate and students also have the option to position their own ships.

 

1. Learning activity types

 

  • Practice - students are asked to simplify expressions each time they correctly identify a part of the opponent's ship.

 

2. What mathematics is being learned?

NCTM Standards

  • NCTM - Alg - Symbols:  Represent and analyze mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols

 

VA SOL Strand

  • 8.15 a, c: The student will (a) solve multistep linear equations in one variable on one and two sides of the equation and (c) identify properties of operations used to solve an equation.

 

Proficiency Strands

  • Conceptual understanding - Students practice simplifying complex expressions

  • Procedural fluency - Students only get credit for a hit if they correctly simplify expressions

 

Additional comments on what is being learned

  • This game should be played after students have learned about simplifying expressions and understand how to combine like terms.

 

3. How is the mathematics represented?

 

It is being represented numerically.  Each expression is shown how it would on a standard assessment, but with the added incentive of winning the game.  The real benefit to this resource is the incorporation of math with a fun and entertaining game.  The technology makes it possible for students to play the game Battleship while practicing math skills.

 

What role does technology play?

Advantages

  • provides students with good practice with an entertaining outcome

 

Disadvantages

  • It might be advantageous for students to play against each other instead of playing against a computer.

 

Unique contribution

  • Many students enjoy playing Battleship and this is a great way to incorporate it in the math classroom without having to buy multiple copies of the game

 

Affordances

  • Computing & automating - Students are being asked to practice simplifying expressions

  • Representing ideas & thinking - Students can apply strategy to the game by positioning ships and making educated guesses as to where the opponent's ships are.

 

5. How does the technology fit or interact with the social context of learning?

Battleship is to be played individually for students to get practice without support.  This can be used as an in-class activity or as a resource for students to use at home.

 

​6. What do teachers and learners need to know?

The game is pretty straight-forward in its explanations and is very easy to use.

 

7.  How could this resource supplement/facilitate PBL?

This resource can be used to supplement PBL.  I use this game in my WebQuest for students to practice.

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