Developing Tasks for Mathematical Problem Solving or Mathematical Modeling at the
School Level
- Preparing for an Earthquake or Tsunami
Ui Hock Cheah SEAMEO RECSAM
APEC Tsukuba International Conference 14 – 18 February 2012, Tsukuba
Real Problem Solving and Mathematical Modelling
The important features of the task:
The problem: problem must be real and connected to the students
Aim is for the students to transforming the real-life problem into a mathematical problem
Real World Mathematical World
Real World Problem
Real World Situation
Mathematical Problem
Mathematical Solution and a
Mathematical Model
Outline of the Mathematical Modelling Process for the
Students
Identify the actual problem
Set up a model
Formulate a mathematical
problem
Find a
mathematical solution
Interpret the solution Compare with
the original solution
Write the solution/ report Real life
situation
Challenges of Math Modelling in school
Selecting tasks that are relevant and appropriate
Helping students connect with the task
Helping students look at the real world problem with mathematical eyes
Helping students pose mathematical questions from a real world situation
Moving from specific to the general solution
Using Problem-based learning (PBL) to overcome some of the challenges
Using scenarios to connect students to the real world
Focusing on what the students know from the scenarios and what they need to know
Allowing students to pose and frame their own mathematical questions
Allowing students to plan strategies to solve the problem
Exemplar
Objective: Using the scenario of
preparedness for natural disasters to lead
students to examine estimates, probability in preparing an evacuation center
School level: Grade 8
Lesson plan will covered over 2 lessons
A video on tsunami can be used to introduce the lesson
Scenario 1
You are the Director of Planning in a town along the South coast of Japan. The
population of the town is about 20,000
people. The Government is concerned about the safety of the people in case of natural
disasters.
What do you know?
What do you need to know?
Scenario 2
The Minister of Education asks you to plan an evacuation center for the town which will be used during an earthquake or a Tsunami.
Your task is to lead a team of planners to
design the evacuation centre and submit it to the government
What do you know?
What do you need to know?
In your group, write down the questions you want to ask. What other information do you need?
What mathematics questions can you ask?
What information do you need to answer the questions?
