Example Lesson Plan

A Technology Enhanced Lesson Plan for Algebra

The following is a lesson plan for Algebra that uses the Desmos online graphing calculator and Google Forms digital tools.  This lesson helps students to learn the relationship between a quadratic function and its graph. This lesson could easily be modified for other functions.

The Common Core Math Standards:

F-IF 7. Graph functions expressed symbolically and show key features of the graph, by hand in simple cases and using technology for more complicated cases.

F-IF 7a. Graph linear and quadratic functions and show intercepts, maxima, and minima.

F-IF 9. 9. Compare properties of two functions each represented in a different way (algebraically, graphically, numerically in tables, or by verbal descriptions). For example, given a graph of one quadratic function and an algebraic expression for another, say which has the larger maximum.

What the Students will do:

Students will be using the Desmos online graphing calculator website to answer questions that relate to the above standards.  The questions will housed within a Google Form, so that the students will submit their responses and the teacher can then use all of the responses to formatively assess what students need help with.  This lesson could be done in class or ideally, students would do this activity at home before the unit on graphing quadratic functions begins.

Enter y = ax^2 + bx + c and "add sliders" for a, b, and c, to dynamically see how changing a, b, and c impacts the graph.

1. Visit Desmos Online Graphing Calculator and enter y=ax^2 + bx + c 
2. Answer the questions on the Google Form.
3. Visit http://quizlet.com/34514655/quadratic-functions-flash-cards/ to practice the vocabulary

This lesson plan made use of the Desmos online graphing calculator (adaptive learning), Google Form (online assessment), and Quizlet (gamification).  Once all of the students have submitted responses, I would create a Wordle to see what vocabulary terms students used to answer the Google Form questions.  

  

This is a Wordle for responses to "What does the graph look like if "a" is positive?"

We can then discuss how the best terminology would be a parabola (u-shape) that opens up.  I'm not sure why one student put in rocket, but I could delete inappropriate or inaccurate responses prior to creating the Wordle.  I like to make Wordles as the text that occurs the most frequently is larger in size, so "u" was used by many students.

Thanks!