Clip 10/15: Modeling with Polynomials Lesson - Part 2C
Overview
Amy Burke asks, “Is any group ready to move forward?” and circulates in the classroom, interacting with pairs, challenging them to extend their thinking and define their terms. She asks the 11th- and 12th-grade students who are working in the “facilitator” role to move their groups forward. Students refer to their worksheets to guide their actions. Amy asks one pair of students to describe clearly what they did so that another pair can understand. The student describes how she used step functions with Desmos. Amy asks the student listening to share what he heard and how he will move forward. Amy asks two pairs, “What type of function could we use to model this data?” Amy suggests to another group that they use the Desmos wrench icon to “get a better picture” of the data. Students explain their thinking to Amy and evaluate whether the graph they’re looking at is a “better picture.” One pair faces technological problems with the laptop they are using, and Burke suggests that four students combine to use a functioning computer.
I think that the use of group roles supports students’ agency, authority, and identity, because it puts the onus on the students to do the thinking, and to share the thinking. I think even just assigning those roles is a step in that direction. I also think that allowing the students some individual fixed time offers them a way in, to have something to contribute.
Students learn differently from one another: some people are ready to talk immediately, and they're doing the thinking while they're talking; other students benefit from a little bit of individual think time first.