Solving Multiple Step Equations: Mobile Device Lesson
This lesson uses several different applications that use either an iPhone or iPad. All applications work on an iPad, most will also work on an iPhone.
Background
- Content Area: Mathematics
- Title: Solving Multi-Step Equations for the variable
- Grade Level or Target Group: Middle school level, and/or Algebra I
Pre Planning
- Big Idea(s): Students will be able to undo the math operations and keep the equation balanced to solve for the variable.
- Essential Questions:
- What is the process to solve for the missing variable?
- Is there a pattern in solving for the variable?
- How does PEMDAS work when solving for the missing variable?
- Objective: Students will use several different applications on a iPad or iPhone to learn how to solve for the missing variable using multiple steps.
Summative Assessment: Students will take a test, using a mobile device, the teacher has made using a program that creates and grades tests. Here are few different options for applications teachers can use to assess students comprehension on this mobile lesson:
- UltimateMathQuiz- This application creates quizzes and gives the scores on the quizzes as well. This could make grading quizzes easier for teachers, depending on what kind of assessment the teacher is wanting and what the teacher is trying to gain from the assessment. The quiz is done in a “game” like way so it is fun for the students to take which could help students who have testing anxiety.
- MyTestingBook- This site allows teachers to create whatever kind of test they want. It also allows teachers to create logins for students to take the tests on their own device. Tests are automatically graded for the teacher as well. This is a great tool for students who are unable to make it to class on testing day as well as mobile learning lessons.
Lesson Opening
- Lesson Opening (The Hook): There are a few different applications that can review skills needed in solving multi-step equations.
- Equations- The first application is a game that reviews order of operation. No variables are used, just numbers. Students can review order of operations as we learn to “undo” the order to solve for the variable.
- Alien Equation- The second application is also a game. This game has students create a multiple step equation when the answer is known. Points are given by the length of equations that are made. This is the opposite idea of solving. This will include critical thinking and problem solving as students see the opposite process and work in creating equations and solving equations.
Lesson Body
- Explanation/Checking for Understanding/Practice: There are several different applications for explaining the skill and practicing the skill as well. The following apps included are both great for explanation and for checking for understanding and practicing the skills as well.
- KhanAcademy has a free application but only works on iPads, not iPhones. This application gives students the ability to watch any of the videos that are made through KhanAcademy and also work on the practice problems as well. This site is great for teachers as it keeps track of what the students do on the site and how long they work on each problem when practicing the skills. It is becoming more and more popular each day as it is so widely used in every subject matter.
- Multiple Step Equations was created by teachers. It includes videos, practice problems, hints and tutorials for students to go through to understand the content better. It is great to give students more than one option as a student may connect with one explanation better then another one.
- MathHelper includes practice problems for students to try. It tells the student when they have a correct or wrong answer with many different problems to try and practice with. A great skill based application.
- Materials: The only tools needed for this lesson would be either an iPhone or an iPad. iPad would work better as all these applications work on iPads and it is larger to see. Paper and pencil would be optional for students who need to see the process and as they work through the problems.