GHS Problem Solving

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
a. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
c. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
d. Use multiple processes and perse perspectives to explore alternative solutions 

Critical Thinking - MATLAB has students defining the scope of a problem that they have defined and reseaching methods to solve, creating a code to solve the problem and presenting the solution

- In Statistics, students are asked to use Excel documents on the computer in order to properly sort large sets of data. Students were also instructed how to use this data to calculate certain measures of tendency to find patterns and conclusions from data. Students found measures such as standard deviation, mean, median, mode, and were instructed how to represent data graphically on Excel.

Questioning - Students use the Internet and databases to find assigned information.
-In College History, students study the Federalists and the Anti Federalists and then complete research to make connections between past parties and our current political parties.

Searching - In Biology students gather data on genetic disorders and make a diagnosis of these disorders and present to class

Investigative - in the Physical Science mousetrap race car project students collaborate in the design of a car using google docs, draw it on the computer, build the car, test it and then analyze the success or failure of their design

Inquisitive - use of Pasco Capstone allows students to analyze lab data in real-time and collect more data as needed

Simulation - In Physiology students participate in a hip replacement surgery simulation

- In Biology students conduct a karyotyping lab online simulation

- Use lab interfaces to take an EKG and label, then discuss

- Use Spriometer to gather lung volume information and discuss

- Students use internet websites and excel to buy and sell stocks in a simulated activity

Other Examples:

 

Intro to Business-Daily use of computers for research, comparisons and implementation of marketing concepts. Students use technology to create and finalize their marketing project, which is a semester long process. Students are to dream-up a new product or select a product that is on the market, but not widely known. They are to take this product from the idea stage, the development, thru production, thru testing, thru distribution to finally the consumer getting their hands on it. Lots of research which includes the financial part; the method of finding the test market (demographic info for their selling); creating surveys and sending them out, then compiling results; creating a method of advertisement then creating the ad itself; calculating how to determine their costs, profit margin and selling price; then creating an enhancement for their product so as to be able to continue to sell after the life cycle begins to dip.

Entrepreneurship - Daily use of technology. Students create their own business. Technology is used for everything needed to develop their business. Students must show how they determined costs from inception thru production and to determine price. Students create an actual 3-D mockup of the bldg(s) they need. Research and calculate construction and/or rental fees. Create marketing concepts. How are they going to create their product/service. Research codes and ordinances. Select geographical locations. If students are purchasing land is it zoned correctly, how much is the land going to cost. Access for purchasing/distribution, need artery maps, etc. Human Resources, to include wages.

Geometry - construction using the software for Geometry. This included finding relationships of angles formed by parallel lines and transversal, finding relationships and properties of parallelograms, and relationships of arcs in circles.

Geometry - Geogebra to discover relationships and point of concurrency in triangles, geogebra/spreadsheet to apply sine graphs and use models to make predictions

History - Students made Prezis or Keynotes on famous leaders in World History. They had to identify them, organize them chronologically and establish relationships between them.

MATLAB - Students used computer modeling of a rocket reentry module

MATLAB - used Fourier transforms to identify musical notes from a flute or other instrument

Intro to Engineering

Students used MATLAB for other classes:

Building graphs for PowerPoint slides for other classes

Using MATLAB to model and analyze a Physics lab dealing with dice/statistics

Using MATLAB to produce graphs for Physics labs

Using MATLAB for a Trigonometry project

Using MATLAB to solve Physics problems