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Real World Math: Whale Watch

 

Curator:  William Stremple

 

Name & Link to tech tool:  http://www.realworldmath.org/whale-watch.html

 

Brief description of tool:  In Whale Watch, students use Google Earth to face a real-world problem and are asked to find a solution.  The right whale's are an endangered species and the population is being threatened by unsuspecting ships.  This lesson asks students to use data analysis to create a solution to this serious problem.  There is a vague guide for teachers to follow, but ultimately this lesson can be catered to any classroom and the teacher can facilitate the learning process however he/she wants.

 

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 are guided through several collections of data and are asked to come up with a solution to a decrease in the Right Whale population.  This is a very open-ended activity and groups of students need to work collaboratively to develop practical ways of fixing this problem.

 

1.  Learning activity types

  • Practice - students will practice incorporating data analysis into problem solving

  • Present - this resource is acts as motivational introduction to real-world problems and the application mathematics has to help solve them

  • Explore - students will engage in making hypotheses about relationships in data and will explore alternate solutions to the problem

  • Apply - students will use data analysis and statistics to create and present a solution to classmates

 

2.  What mathematics is being learned?

 

NCTM Standards

  • NCTM-DA&P-question & display - formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them;

  • NCTM-DA&P-select methods - select and use appropriate statistical methods to analyze data;

  • NCTM-DA&P-inferences & predictions - develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data;

 

VA SOL Strands

  • 8.13 a - The student will make comparisons, predictions, and inferences, using information displayed in graphs;

 

 

Proficiency Strands

  • conceptual understanding-comprehension of mathematical concepts 

    • Students need to display a thorough understanding of the concepts in order to correctly interpret the data

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

    • Accuracy, flexibility, efficiency, and appropriateness are key components to working collaboratively and develop a viable solution to the problem

  • strategic competence-ability to formulate, represent, and solve mathematical problems 

    • Students need to formulate and represent the data correctly in order to develop solutions

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

    • When coming up with a solution and presenting to the class, students need to think critically, reflect on if it will work, explain the solution, and justify why they would use it.

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

    • This resource opens the door to many different environmental issues that can be solved using mathematics.

 

Additional comments on what is being learned

In addition to learning valuable and often overlooked mathematical skills, students are also engaged in meaningful, real-life problem solving.

 

3.  How is the mathematics represented?

The mathematics is represented as a virtual manipulative where students can locate and discover different parts of the tool.  It is also a graphical representation of different data in relation to the whale sightings and populations.

 

What role does technology play?

Advantages

  • students have access to the internet and the activity has several additional resources built-in

  • this is a meaningful and worthwhile activity for students to engage in

  • gives students a reason to learn and/or pursue mathematics in the future

 

Disadvantages

  • depending on the level of students, this may be too open-ended and they may need additional guidance and learning experiences

  • the process needs to be closely monitored to ensure students are cooperating with each other, staying on-task, and working to accomplish a goal

 

Unique contribution

  • I really enjoy the use of Google Earth and the additional resources this activity entails.  It shows students the diversity of mathematics and how it can be represented.

 

Affordances

  • Computing & Automating -Students have an opportunity to practice data analysis skills and inferring relationship in different patterns

  • Representing Ideas & Thinking –Students are forced to represent their ideas in a practical way and share them with others

  • Accessing Information -Students are using the internet and have access exploring more about the topic or skills

  • Communicating & Collaborating –Students are working in groups to come up with a solution they all agree on

  • Capturing & Creating -Students are creating a solution that will save the Right Whale population and sharing it with classmates

 

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

This technology should be used by students in groups of 4 or more.  Jobs can be assigned within each group to ensure all students are working equally on the task.  Students need to listen to one another and develop a solution that all group members can agree upon. 

 

6.  What do teachers and learners need to know?

Whale Watch 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?

Teachers can use this resource to facilitate PBL.  This resource inquires about solutions to a realistic problem and also lends itself to further examination of other potential environmental problems that exist around the world or in the local community.

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