Direct instruction
The aim of this lesson was to engage the students in solving Non-Linear Systems of Equations through a Socrative Challenge. Students formed groups and then were awarded different points on the questions depending on what skills they demonstrated - using Desmos, a Graphics Calculator, Substitution or the Quadratic Formula.
This video shows the students progressing through the Socrative Challenge.
Reflection
This lesson was chaotic but the students were engaged and enjoyed it. I've called this activity a Socrative Challenge and have based it loosely on the Mathex competition where students have questions that they can attempt in any order. Students were then also able to gain different numbers of points for each question depending on how they showed their working. I think the idea of awarding points for showing different methods of working has merit, however in this case only one of the groups attempted to show how they could solve the system of simultaneous equations using the quadratic equation. Next time I would either award significantly more points to skills that I wanted the students to focus on or I would make certain skills necessary to show before getting any points for the question.
Instructions on Google+
The students accessed the Socrative Quiz (login required to view link) and began this Socrative Challenge to Solve Systems of Non-Linear Equations.
The Score Board was projected on the board throughout the activity and is was updated by me on Google Sheets.
Here is a link to the questions that the students saw on the Socrative Quiz (no login required to view link).
