Project Concept Map
The Project Concept map is constructed to outline the benchmark and investigative lessons, in addition to other components of a project-based unit in order to break down the concept we are planning a unit for. First of all, this concept map differs from the Expert Concept Map within the CTS section of Project-Based Instruction. An expert map is very broad and would encompass any benchmark that falls under the specific CTS topic, which in this case, is Rational Numbers. A project concept map takes a topic and focuses it into the aspects that would be important in a unit you are planning to teach. For this unit, we knew we would be starting with an introduction to rational expressions, so we created a 2-day benchmark lesson, indicated in blue, to explore rational expressions and how to simplify them. Two other benchmark lessons indicated in the project concept map are with arithmetic operations of rational expressions, which within our unit is split over the course of a school week, and solving rational equations and inequalities, which absorb approximately 3 days within our unit as well. We decided it would be best for students to learn the operations of rational expressions and how to solve rational equations, so we can introduce them to this very mathematical based real-world example: roller coasters! Physics is involved in building roller coasters and the formulas used for the force contain rational expressions, so the strong foundation for rational expressions is necessary to benefit from this real-world example. This is why we structured much of the benchmark material for early in the unit, and the more investigative (orange) and project-oriented (purple) material for later within the unit.
Above is the Concept Map based on this unit. For a larger image, please download the document below.
pbi_cmap.jpg | |
File Size: | 1185 kb |
File Type: | jpg |