Instructional Software Lesson Idea

Lesson Title How to tame your equations (Solving for linear equations)

Content Area Algebra, Grade Level: 9

Content Standards MGSE9-12.A.REI.3 Solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable
including equations with coefficients represented by letters. For example,
given ax + 3 = 7, solve for x.

Technology Standards Empowered Learner:

Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving,
and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the
learning sciences.
1a. Students articulate and set personal learning goals, develop
strategies leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect on the
learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.
1c. Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves
their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.

Digital Citizen:
Students recognize the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living,
learning, and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and
model in ways that are safe, legal, and ethical.
2b. Students engage in positive, safe, legal, and ethical behavior when
using technology, including social interactions online or when using
networked devices.
2c. Students demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights
and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property.

Integrated Technology Online Algebra Tiles:

Students can use this tool to build equations with visual blocks, thus
translating the information a different media.

Projector and Projector screen:

This technology is integrated into the lesson for the purpose of providing
information to the students. It can be used to display content from academic
websites such as Khan Academy, so that the students can see and work
through examples together as a class.

Computers/Laptops/Tablets (provided by the school)

This technology can be used by the students to navigate and interact with
additional online resources. Examples include:
- Gizmo
- Virtual Algebra Tiles

Type of Instructional Tutorial: Khan Academy

Software
Simulation: Virtual Algebra Tiles

Drill and Practice: Delta Math

Instructional Game: Gizmo

Software Feature Students can work through practice problems provided on sites such as delta
math. A major feature of this software is monitoring and reporting of student
assessment, largely because it would allow me to monitor their progress as
they work through the problems. Virtual algebra tiles are included in the
lesson so that students can use manipulatives to learn how and why the
content works. Some major features of this software are responsive and
uncluttered graphics, and user friendly and easy UI. The interface is easy to
grasp, thus allowing students to immediately begin working with this software.

Reference or The link listed below is a free, online resource for using algebra tiles. It
Supporting Resources supported the creation of my lesion idea because it is a tool that students
could use to work with algebraic expressions and represent them in different
ways.
https://www.nctm.org/Classroom-
Resources/Illuminations/Interactives/Algebra-Tiles/

Websites like Delta math or That Quiz supported the creation of this idea,
because they provide students with an interactive and easily accessible way
for them to practice and reinforce their understanding of the content.
https://www.thatquiz.org/tq-0/math/algebra/

Gizmo provides a series of games related to the content area. It supported

the creation of this lesson idea, because educational games serve as an
effective tool to keep students actively participating and engaged.
https://gizmos.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspDetail&
resourceID=2005

Bloom’s Taxonomy Remembering – Students will have to retrieve relevant knowledge that
Levels they’ve learned prior, in order to better understand their current lesson.

Understanding – Students will be constructing meaning from their lesson by

working with online manipulatives to represent the information.

Applying – Students will apply their knowledge by working through problems

online.

Analyzing – By using virtual algebra tiles, students can break the material
down into its core components and determine how they all relate to each
other.

Integration Level Level 3: Infusion

Universal Design I believe that the activities within this lesson idea and the technology tools I
Rationale selected support and enhance the learning experience for students in the
classroom. One of the main reasons for this is because they offer a variety of
ways in which the students can engage with the content material. It also gives
students the opportunity to become more comfortable learning independently,
since it allows them to explore the information in a way that is fun instead of
stressful. These activities also encourage students to be active participants,
which is beneficial for a variety of reasons, one example being that it helps
them establish a deeper understanding of the material. This is important
because it allows them to make their own connections to the content, and
supports the development of critical thinking.
Lesson Idea For my lesson idea, the students will use their school-issued device
(whether it be a computer, laptop, tablet, etc.) responsibly, and solely for the
purpose of engaging with the content. They will begin by working on a warm-
up related to their content, which will be displayed on the projector screen at
the front of the class. After that is completed, students will use a
computer/laptop/tablet to engage with the content in a virtual space. They will
do this by first playing through Gizmos’ “solving algebraic equations I”, then
completing “solving algebraic equations II”. After doing so, students can then
move on to using virtual manipulatives to explore the content, specifically by
using virtual algebraic tiles to represent equations visually. During this time,
the teacher will be monitoring their progress by walking around the classroom
and answering any questions that student’s may have. After this task has
been completed, students may move on to the next activity. For this activity,
students will be given time to work on practice problems (provided on sites
such as Delta Math or Khan Academy). While students are doing this, the
teacher will monitor their progress, either by walking around the classroom or
by tracking their progress on the computer.
The project will be introduced after the warm-up, so that students get a
chance to review core concepts and ask questions before getting started. The
teacher will give verbal directions to the students as they set up their
computers/devices and pull up the website. The warm-up should only take
around 10-15 minutes. Additionally, students will have 30 minutes to play
through the games on gizmos and explore using virtual manipulatives, before
moving on to their next activity, which they will have the rest of class to
complete. Student learning will be assessed mainly by the teacher, who will
be watching over the students and walking over to help those that seem to be
struggling. However, their work will also be assessed by sites such as Delta
math, that will grade each problem upon submission. The final product will be
used to differentiate learning, because it will offer a variety of ways in which
students can interact with and learn the material. I will extend the student
learning to a higher learning level by utilizing different types of instructional
software to aid in their understanding of the content. This is largely because
the software and strategies I have chosen will make teaching the material
more effective. Additionally, I will conclude this lesson by having the students
join a group PowerPoint and write one thing they’ve learned, as well as one
question they still have. Each student should write on their own, separate
slide, and this will be their exit ticket for the day. Using this information, I can
provide students with feedback that is more meaningful and specific to them.
Additionally, I could provide feedback virtually (i.e., on the PowerPoint, or
shared through a site like Delta Math), or in person depending on the
situation.

Design Reflection After designing this lesson idea, I feel as though the activities I created could
impact student learning in a positive way. I believe this to be the case
because it appeals to various styles of learning, as well as encourages
students to explore the material independently. This lesson could be
extended by including software and strategies that focus on collaboration. For
example, having students answer questions through Kahoot could enhance
this project, since it would be a good way to get the class involved and
working/thinking together.