Order of Operations Party

Imagine you want to throw a party.  What will you need to buy?  If I wanted to throw a party for our math class (since everybody mastered Order of Operations), here is what I would need:

I know that each of these items costs $5.  How much will the party cost?

Well, I know that I need to buy 2 veggie trays.  For the next three items, I need 4 each.  Here's what that looks like in numbers and operations:

5(2 + 3 x 4)

In your journal, use order of operations to find out how much this party would cost.  Circle your answer.

In the Real World

We have seen how the order of operations is important in math.  In the video from Brain Pop, you saw that the order of operations is also important in baking.  This example is helpful for demonstrating, in an accessible way, how the order in which you do things makes a difference for the final outcome.

Imagine you are trying to explain why the order of operations is important in math to a student in another class that doesn't understand, and hasn't seen this helpful example.  In your journal, write about another real world example in which the order of the steps makes a difference.  Try not to use baking as your example.  Explain how, in math, order matters, too.

Why do we need order of operations?

In this cartoon, the girl put the grocery items in the bag in the wrong order.  How could something as simple as loading groceries have a "right" order?  Well, if more delicate items like bread or eggs go in the bag first, and then a heavy item like milk or a watermelon goes in next, what would happen?  Mom certainly wouldn't be happy.  Although the cartoon above is a silly representation, do you see why it depicts the importance of the order of operations?

You all know that putting items in a grocery bag requires an order.  Did you know, though, that number operations require an order, too?  In math, we call this the Order of Operations.  In order to get the right answer on a complex math problem, we must do the individual operations in the right order:

• Parentheses
• Exponents
• Multiplication &
• Division
• Addition &
• Subtraction

For example, let's look at the problem  5 + 4 x 2.  What happens if we do the operations from left to right as they appear, without using the order of operations?  We would first do 5 + 4 and get 9.  Then we would do 9 x 2 and get 18.  Is this the correct answer?  No!  We need to use PEMDAS to determine the correct order of operations.  We should first do the multiplication:  4 x 2 = 8.  Then, we should add 5 + 8 = 13.  Do you see the difference?

In your math journal, come up with a complex math problem like my example.  Using more than two operations in your problem, show how using the incorrect order of operations gives you the wrong answer.  Be sure to do the problem correctly, and circle your answer.

Morning reflections

I made it to blog post #3!  Is anybody else surprised?  I am really hoping that I can keep up with posting outside of this class assignment.  I love reading blogs and I spend a lot of the time on the computer, so my life is pretty conducive to supporting a blogging habit, right?

I am up early this morning, and having a really great time so far.  I love these kinds of mornings because I know I am going to have a great day!  I think “waking up on the right side of the bed” has a lot to do with if you wake up mid-sleep cycle or in between sleep cycles.  If you are interested in this, I really recommend checking out this website (http://sleepyti.me/).  You enter in when you go to sleep and it tells you when to set your alarm so that you don’t interrupt a sleep cycle.  I think I got lucky and that happened to me this morning. :)

Or, it could have more to do with the calmness I am feeling due to spring break in here!  Last night I downloaded a bunch of new music.  I go through phases with iTunes.  I will download new music like crazy for about a week, and then nothing for months.  Once I download new music, I sort of just stick with it.  What can I say?  I like what I like.

Right now I am listening to Fun’s album Some Nights.  The lead singer of this band was the former lead signer of one of my favorite bands growing up, The Format.  This album is joyful and sincere, and I love his voice!  I would recommend it to anybody. :)

Does anybody have suggestions for me for new music?  Leave me a comment!  Have a wonderful spring break, everyone!

Spring Break - finally!

I have had just about the busiest week of my college life so far, and it is finally almost over!  I have a few last minute things to finish up, and then I am free to do absolutely nothing for a week, and that is just how I want it.

Well, I guess I am not going to be doing nothing...  I actually have a little "Spring Break to-do list" on a post-it note above my desk.  Are you curious?  I knew it!  Here it is...

• Go to Mission Beach (yes! leaving on Saturday!)
• Finish my sorority report for National Headquarters
• Work on my Honors Thesis Proposal
• Anthropology Film assignment
• Webliography 3 for LRC 320

I am so excited for bullet number one - I am not even sure why it needs to be on my to-do list!  I will complete that gladly!  :)
The second bullet has to do with a leadership position I hold in my sorority.  I am the VP of New Member Education, so I have a lot of planning to do for our formal recruitment in the fall!  My plans are due over Spring Break, so I am excited to finish that up and send it in.
The third bullet... that one I am nervous about!  I am working on putting together a psychology study for my Honors Thesis Project.  We will be running it in the fall semester.  I have a good start on it, but I have a lot of work ahead of me in order to get that bullet checked off.
I am in an anthropology class (the fourth bullet) and my professor decided to have a writing assignment due the Monday we get back from Spring Break at noon.  So, I have to be thinking about that class on my vacation.  Ugh!
And, last but certainly not least, I have to complete Webliography 3 before break is over as well!  That assignment is for the same class as this blog is.

Well, I hope everybody enjoys the week off!  What are you plans for Spring Break?  Leave me a comment! :)

Starting a blog

Well, here it is - my first blog post!  I am going to be using this blog to post my thoughts, ideas, and insights about my future classroom, especially regarding the incorporation of technology in efficient ways.  This blog is beginning as a class assignment for LRC 320, a course called Teaching with New Technologies.  So far, we have created a Powerpoint presentation, a website, and a video about the "do's" and "do not's" of using technology in the classroom.

So, here's what I've learned so far:

• Learning in an online environment requires different skills than traditional learning environments
• Communicating solely online requires that you pay more attention to the way your emails, etc. are perceived
• How to create and maintain a website
• How to work with a group online
• How to create and maintain a blog (yes!)

But, I must humbly report that I have much more to learn.  Here's what I hope to get out of the rest of this course:

• A greater understanding of how to make my website more professional
• Gain a purpose for my website and blog
• Feel confident using technology for classroom purposes
• Learn to use technology in a way that will benefit students

To the other students in this class - what was the most important thing you have learned so far?  To any current teachers out there - what has been the most useful technology you have used in the classroom?  Please leave a comment if you have one!