Search All of the Math Forum:
Views expressed in these public forums are not endorsed by
Drexel University or The Math Forum.
|
|
|
|
2 things
Posted:
Jun 3, 2003 9:38 PM
|
|
First, I've lost Pam Meader's e.mail and if she's out there, would you
please drop me an e.mail. I'll be in Maine for the summer (Bangor area) and
if you're going to be around this summer, I'd like to come by and say hello.
Second, regarding numeracy/literacy, I gave my classes an ad from the local
paper which advertised a "% off" sale. Previous to giving it to them I
noticed that the advertised original and sale prices they listed didn't
amount to the advertised percent off. I made up problems - e.g., is the
advertised percent off correct? If not, what is the actual percent off
based on the advertised original and sale prices listed? I then had them
"purchase" something at the actual percent they calculated and then get an
additional 15% off.
The point of my activity went way beyond what I had planned. They picked at
the ad when the calculations were off and a discussion of false advertising
ensued. Then the issue of what happens if they do advertise incorrectly but
the computer-based cashier system takes 30% when the calculations we did
gave us 35-38% (which was the case several times). Three people will test
it out tonight when they go shopping since the ad I used contained items
they had been shopping for. They will, they say, challenge the store if the
receipt shows something different from the ad, and they intend to take the
work done in class to verify the calculations.
The next class will be interesting! What's more, it's not just using math
in the "real world" but the reality that they can verify information
advertised, and get active about interacting with domains never before
interacted with, based on stuff done in a basic math class. Now, that's
empowerment for them and satisfaction for all ... later ... mark
--- markdotmath@earthlink.net
--- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet.
|
|
|
|
