Celebrity Function Head: Putting the Fun Back into Functions

Y

5

Teachers

Adolescents; Teaching Methods; Mathematics Teachers; Mathematical Concepts; Graphing Calculators; Cognitive Development; Mathematics Instruction; Numbers; Educational Games; Technology Uses in Education; Mathematics; Foreign Countries

0045-0685

For mathematics teachers who are continually looking for ways in which to engage their students in the learning process, the capabilities offered by technology answer the call. Whether the technology comprises computer based applications or graphics calculators, often boring aspects can be bypassed so that students can work on the "good bits" and build understanding. These tools, when used effectively, have been a great benefit to improving the cognitive development of many mathematical concepts. The advent of calculators in mathematics classrooms did not negate the need to understand the basics; similarly, graphics programs do not replace the need for simple experiences such as point-plotting and a table-of-values. While students' skills and understanding of graphing and algebraic manipulation is developing, reflective practice is necessary for them to clarify their ideas. Consolidation of concepts and skills is also achieved when the ideas are applied to alternative examples and new contexts. This article describes the "Celebrity Function Head" game, which was devised as a fun ending to the topic of curve sketching, and primarily as a way to practise and consolidate the key concepts. This article presents the family of the seven functions loosely defined as: (1) straight line; (2) parabola; (3) cubic; (4) hyperbola; (5) exponential; (6) logarithm; and (7) circle. The purpose of "Celebrity Function Head" is to identify the equation of a curve by asking questions relating to the features of those curves. A modification to the game may be to also produce a sketch of the function, which fits the syllabus requirements of sketching "a particular curve by determining its features from the equation". This article provides the set-up, rules, and scoring of the game. (Contains 2 tables.)

ERIC

1

2007

EJ769968