Oscillating
Systems Modeling: Mathematics Component
Assessment Components
The reports assigned in this unit
are crucial components of the evaluation for this unit. They will require the student to describe in
detail how they determined the model for a specific set of data, and then how
they analyzed multiple sets of data to draw conclusions about the connections
between the symbolic and mathematical models.
For each data set, students will
complete an individual structured analysis of the mathematical model they
determine. A report form and grading rubric is provided.
In a separate report, each group
will combine information from the appropriate models and communicate their
conclusions about how a symbolic model parameter (that was the varying
parameter in their collection of data) determines the parameters of the
mathematical model. A report form and grading rubric is provided.
The teacher should be monitoring
the actual Excel modeling and the production of the reports. The model
connections report will be submitted to the cooperating physics class as well
as the teacher.
A summative evaluation will
consist of an assessment where each student will be supplied with a new data
set (download data sets here) for which they will determine (using Excel) a
mathematical model and describe the process they used. They will fill out a report and print out or
show the teacher the Excel output. In addition, a more structured exam will require students to construct a graph of a
sine curve from a mathematical model and, as learned in this unit, determine a
model given a graph of a sine curve.
This will reinforce the connection between the two representations and
the ability to work in either direction- mathematical model to graph or graph
to mathematical model. A day of
wrapping up loose ends and additional practice before this evaluation may be
useful.
Alternative assessments could
include:
· Assigning
a final report where the student will discuss the process of determining the
mathematical models and how connections were made between the mathematical and
symbolic models.
· Group
presentations of model connection reports.
Students can use computer resources to create presentation materials and
include the output from the Excel modeling tool. It is recommended that these presentations be given to the
cooperating physics class.