The student developed, evaluated, and revised a process for calculating the area under a curve.
As an introduction to the mathematics concept of calculating area under a curve, the teachers asked students to work individually to try to determine a way to do it, and to write down their thoughts, what worked, and what did not work.
This student looked at the problem and decided on an initial approach. When the process was identified as “not good enough” the process was changed and re-evaluated, based on the same initial criteria.
This student started by drawing the problem to get a better understanding. She noticed the general area under the curve was roughly triangular and thought of determining the area of the triangle. She also tried to think of it as a quarter of a circle. She graphed the quadratic equation and tried to find rectangles and triangles. But she realized that the Pythagorean theorem could not be applied to find the area of the “triangles” as the hypotenuses were curves rather than straight lines.
Finally she tried to find the area by thinking about the mass of the graph in relation to the mass of the paper, and the area as a proportion of the total. This is an unorthodox approach to area, and not the method she will be taught, but represents a serious attempt to generate and analyze approaches based on known mathematics concepts.
I can gather and combine new evidence with what I already know to develop reasoned conclusions, judgments, or plans.
I can use what I know and observe to identify problems and ask questions. I can explore and engage with materials and sources. I can consider more than one way to proceed and make choices based on my reasoning and what I am trying to do. I can develop or adapt criteria, check information, assess my thinking, and develop reasoned conclusions, judgments, or plans.