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Real World Math: U-Boat Hunt

 

Curator:  William Stremple

 

Name & Link to tech tool:  http://www.realworldmath.org/u-boat-hunt.html

 

Brief description of tool:  Using Google Earth, students become mathematical code breakers to help Allied intelligence find and destroy Axis U-boats in World War II.  Students work to recognize and create rules for numerical sequences, use latitude and longitude to chart locations, and decipher and translate coded messages.

 

Technical cost & considerations:This is a free resource that only requires the download and use of Google Earth. In order to access the additional information to go along with the lesson, there is a password: mango. The creator of this website asks only that this password does not become common knowledge, but that it can be shared among teachers for educational purposes.

 

EVALUATION

 

Description of Learning Activity:

Students engage in activities to aid the Allies in World War II.  Students are given coded messages that use a cipher to decode.  These messages and knowledge of number sequences will help to find the locations of enemy U-boats.  There are 16 U-boats in all, so this activity can last for some time.

 

1. Learning activity types

  • Practice - students practice decoding messages and deciphering number sequences

  • Present - can be used to interest students in mathematics or introduce sequences

  • Explore - students are exploring mathematical ideas as well as historical situations

  • Apply - students are exposed to alternate uses for mathematics, such as decoding messages

 

2. What mathematics is being learned?

NCTM Standards

  • NCTM-N&0-understand numbers - understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems;

  • NCTM-Alg-patterns - understand patterns, relations, and functions;

 

VA SOL Strands

  • 8.14 - The student will make connections between any two representations (tables, graphs, words, and rules) of a given relationship

 

Proficiency Strands

  • conceptual understanding-comprehension of mathematical concepts

    • students will comprehend how mathematics is used by code breakers

  • procedural fluency-skill in carrying out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and appropriately

    • students need to be accurate in their calculations and decoding in order to locate the enemy ships

  • adaptive reasoning-capacity for logical thought, reflection, explanation, and justification

    • students are engaged in explaining how they were able to decode and decipher the locations/messages

  • productive disposition-habitual inclination to see mathematics as sensible, useful, and worthwhile, coupled with a belief in diligence in one's own efficacy

    • students are able to see the various uses mathematics has in the real world

 

Additional comments on what is being learned

 

3. How is the mathematics represented?

The mathematics is being represented both graphically and numerically.  Students are linking coordinates with the locations of enemy ships.  Students are also deciphering coded messages and figuring out number sequences to find locations.

 

What role does technology play?

Advantages

  • Google Earth provides students with a different way to view a coordinate plane

 

Disadvantages

  • this needs to be closely monitored because of the use of the internet

  • teachers need to be careful to not send all the locations at once to students, only one at a time

 

Unique contribution

  • Google Earth is a wonderful resource for students to link mathematics, not only with real-life situations, but also to other contexts

 

Affordances

  • Computing & Automating - students are engaged in deciphering numberical sequences

  • Representing Ideas & Thinking - students need to think critically and be creative in their deciphering skills

 

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

Although this activity could be completed with partners or in groups, I think it would be best for students to complete individually.  I have been thinking of using this as something extra for students that work ahead or always finish early.  Also, this would be used as warmup activities for several days to motivate students to learn more about the various uses of mathematics in real-life.

 

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

U-boat Hunt requires the use of Google Earth. This needs to be downloaded prior to using this with students. I would also recommend visiting and using the additional documents provided in the lesson plans. In order to access these plans, educators need the password mango. The creator of this website does not the password to become general knowledge, but it may be shared to other educators.

 

7.  How could this resource supplement/facilitate PBL?

This resource can be used to facilitate the learning process.  Teachers can interact with students and provide feedback by sending students to what coordinates they find for the locations.

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