Contents of Curriculum Unit 81.06.03:

Purpose

The attractiveness of computers, computer languages, and computer games is evident, creating in this attractiveness a powerful and motivational learning tool. We have all seen our students on Saturday afternoons, pouring quarters into Space invaders machines or playing with electronic games. We cannot ignore the fact that computers are increasingly becoming part of our daily lives, and particularly,our students lives. Our students will undoubtedly be dealing with and operating computers in any career they choose. An early introduction of the student to computers and its use in problem solving will ensure, for the student, a certain degree of literacy and, proficiency in the usage of computers. We must help them relinquish their misconceptions that math and computers are beyond common knowledge and interesting to only a few crazed mathematicians while helping them develop a healthy attitude towards problem solving. All students would benefit from an introduction into the world of computers.

Computer Thinking and Flowcharting

Programming languages are available in many shapes and sizes. Some are science oriented, some business oriented, and some developed for a particular computer system. They all share one similarity, they all are languages based in logic. A computer is simply a logic machine that performs computations and calculations at an incredible speed. What those of us not associated with computers do not realize is that these units are quite moronic and are only as efficient and effective as the person instructing or programming the machine.

Our students will enter an adult working world and will be faced with computers. They will need to understand and use this facility. Introducing the usage of computers, basic programming skills, and encouraging our children to think logically about solving problems will help them immensely when they enter the job market. The purpose of this unit is to act as an introduction to the thinking world of computers, to help students develop a math language and an alternative methodology that will enable them to solve all problems. This unit is directed specifically to those who still have difficulty deciphering and solving single and double-step word problems.

Most middle school students try to solve a word problem or any mutli-step task by trying to take intuitive leaps at the answer. This method has only two possibilities for solution. The answer is either right or wrong and efforts to solve the problem end. Students have attacked the whole without ever contemplating alternative ways of dealing with the problem. Our students would best solve problems if they critically read each problem and determined what information is given, what kind of answer should be returned, and what steps or calculations are needed to obtain this answer. This need not be so difficult to achieve. The introduction of computers, how computers work, and flowcharting will help students develop ways to handle these problems. Methods must be developed to help students relate the immediate problem to ones they have previously solved. Our students can solve these problems if we can explain how to break large difficult problems into small manageable ones. Again, a step by step procedure to solve tasks. Many of our students believe or have been told that they’re just “not good in math”. Ideally, with computers as a motivational tool, these students will also be able to achieve success in school mathematics.

The key to developing a child’s ability to think logically is to have him talk through or explain how he goes about solving a problem. This method of “talking through” the problem will force them to verbalize an explanation of a problem he may think he understands. A child who can explain how to solve a problem, whether it be a mathematical problem or some other task, truly understands the process involved and is not dependent upon rote memorization of a skill. How many students can actually explain how to subtract two numbers when regrouping is involved? Our goal is to help students sit back and think about what must be done before attempting to solve a problem. An efficient and powerful method to use is that of flowcharting a problem. Flowcharts are used in programming to diagram the path in which information is processed through a computer to obtain the desired results. The flowchart will be a general outline of how to solve a problem or perform a task. The chart will not only enable the creator of the chart to solve the problem but other students may follow that procedure as well. Below is an explanation of the symbols used in flowcharting.

Flowcharting

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

Students will use the above symbols to diagram the process they will develop to perform a particular task. Placing the necessary operations in the appropriate symbols will direct children to think of problem solving as a process involving a logical sequence of steps, each step dependent upon the successful completion of the previous step.

Example of Usage of Flowcharts

PROBLEM: FLOWCHART the process of FEEDING WILD BEARS.

Students may be asked to design flowcharts of activities they enjoy such as buying a can of soda from a machine, making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, performing a simple dance step, etc.. The lesson for the students to learn is that end results do not simply appear out of thin air. A sequential process must be followed for a task to be completed. Students will also discover by observing their classmates’ charts that some tasks may be approached and solved in many different ways and yet each will obtain the desired results. Too often students view mathematics and any field associated with it, as inflexible and learnable only through memorization. This is a grave injustice to the children and to the field of mathematics. In effect, working of computers and flowcharting will help students assimilate their previously learned skills in computation with an enjoyable, highly motivating lesson about problem solving

The student should be encouraged to draw flowcharts that their classmates may also follow. This will emphasize the need for clear, concise instructions in a sequential order. I find that most children are impressed that their flowcharts) or the order in which they decide to solve a problem, are never necessarily wrong, but usually fixable. It is important for students to realize that an intelligent attempt at finding the answer to a problem is just as important as obtaining the correct answers. We, as educators, can unconsciously place entirely too much emphasis on right and wrong rather that on the thinking process involved. Students will benefit from this “ungraded” thinking process and in the long run, will develop a new thinking pattern for solving problems.

Application to Mathematical Word Problems

A. Addition of Decimals

Raul went to the grocery store and bought a loaf of bread for 69¢, a gallon of milk for $1.14, and a dozen of eggs for 97¢. He paid for the groceries with a ten dollar bill. What was his change?

Although this may seem involved it is important for students to understand the process through which the numbers are placed as well as the computational skills needed to carry out the operation. The decision box may be omitted in this chart as it serves only to introduce and additional dimension to the problem, one of sufficient information.

FIGURE I Flowchart the addition of decimals.

B. Least Common Multiple

C. Flowchart a formula for a geometric figure.

Roberta wants to grow spaghetti in her back yard. She has cleared a rectangular patch of land with a width of one inch and a length of sixty inches. How much fertilizer does she need to cover the area of her garden.

1) it is an area problem

2) the dimensions are given

3) the formula for area of a rectangle is length x width

A child who is able to develop a process for solving problems will achieve success in school and develop a healthier attitude towards learning. Flowcharting gives the children a direction and a method to decipher and decode the problems they, at one time, would not attempt. Practice and reinforcement of these skills will enable our students to solve any problem, and build their confidence in their own problem solving skills. To “think like a computer” that is to approach a task in a logical, sequential order, is to reorganize their thinking patterns and achieve success in developing problem solving techniques.

LESSON PLAN SUGGESTIONS

I. Write a flowchart to explain how one buys a can of soda from a soda machine.

II. Place students in pairs and have one student instruct the other as to how to make a can of frozen orange juice. The “computer” child must only perform the tasks the “programming “ child gives. Have students discuss where problems occurred and how they “de-bugged” or corrected- their difficulties.

III. Have students “talk-out” the process of adding numbers together. Include in the discussion why regrouping is necessary.

IV. Play Computer Class. Assign groups of children to be INPUT DATA teams, OPERATIONS teams, DECISION teams, and OUTPUT teams. Each group has a set task to perform based on instructions given to them by another team. Watch how the transference of information is accomplished. Have students discuss the information processing involved.

Teacher Bibliography