Re: Meaningless problems in algebra texts

[Larry Woolf <Larry.Woolf@GAT.COM>]

Other science instructional materials that have students convert between
different representations at earlier grades include

the FOSS grades 5-6 Variables module
<http://lhsfoss.org/scope/folio/html/Variables/1.html>
The Swingers investigation is outstanding.

and the FOSS Middle School Force and Motion module
<http://lhsfoss.org/scope/folio/html/ForceandMotion/1.html>

Larry Woolf
General Atomics
San Diego, CA 92121
<http://www.sci-ed-ga.org>
<http://www.ga.com>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Clement
> Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 11:44 AM
> Subject: Re: Meaningless problems in algebra texts

> One of the few texts that actually has students translate
> between all representations is Minds on Physics from the
> U.Mass Amherst research group. It actually has students write
> equations and also solve problems using calculus ideas (area
> & slope) without the calculus formalism.  Much of the text
> looks simple, but some of it is challenging to college students.
>
> One of the activities out of MOP that I find interesting, but
> I am not sure if it worked well in my hands, was translating
> graphs to physical situations.  Students were given all kinds
> of crazy graphs and then were required to us simple objects
> to reproduce the motion.