The Concord Consortium

On Wednesday, I discussed the resources available at Jo Boalers site for teaching Data Science.  One of the places referred to in the lessons is The Concord Consortium which helps find STEAM resources for teachers.  It provides links to hands-on digital tools and great virtual labs.  The site if free and allows teachers to add classes to assign activities. 

There is a search engine in the site so you can look for activities focused on mathematics, chemistry,  earth science, etc.  I typed in mathematics and came up with 29 activities for grades K to 10.  There are activities to do and graphing on exponential decay or growth, quadratic equations, linear equations, systems of equations, inverse functions, transformation of functions with rotation, reflection, transformation, and all of them.  Every activity lists the grade levels which it is geared for.

I decided to explore the activity on exponential decay geared for high school because the site allows peoples to explore any activity.  It begins with a general graph for exponential decay and two different equations, one for exponential decay and the other for radioactive decay. It then has students use the exponential decay formula with the depreciation of a car.  We know that when you buy a car, it will depreciate over a certain period of time and that depreciation can be taken off your income tax if the car is purchased for your business.  

The slide explains how to use the formula with a specific situation of determine the correct formula for a car worth $24,000 when purchased but which depreciates at 15% each year.  The slide requires you to provide an answer before it will let you move on.  In addition, it provides immediate feedback to all answers.  Once you have the correct formula, the next slide shows the correct graph for it and has the student identify the point on the graph for the car's value after 5 years.  Then the activity has you identify the car's value at the end of 10 years.

Now, they have the students use the same formula but applied to the number of species in the world. The students identify the correct formula and then interpret the associated graph in two different ways before having students use the radioactive decay formula in regard to carbon dating of an antiquity. Students have to identify the proper equation based on the information before being asked to interpret the graph in two different ways.  Then they use the radioactive formula to find the half life of Cobolt-60. Again they identify the correct formula and read a graph.  Once they've finished this, they have completed the activity.

I am impressed with this activity. It is something that would be really good to use as a guided practice once students have been introduced or reminded of the concept.  I just looked at the preview but if you click on the activity itself, you'll find the lesson plans which include the standards being addressed, essential questions, what students need to know and what they will learn, assessment, and questions.  

In addition, it provides worksheets with two more applications so students can show what they learned by answering the questions and the pfd provides answers. One of the last things it tells you is what software is needed from chrome to safari, Firefox, and internet explorer.  

I'd say, go check the site out, explore, and determine if you feel it would be a really good site to incorporate.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.