Alright, school starts this week, so its time to stop being lazy and put up a new question:
What are the next 2 numbers in this sequence: 2, 3, 6, 8, 16, 19, 38, 42, 84, ...?
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
College Ready???
Disclosure: I spent my last two years of high school working as a Peer College Counselor. That means that I worked in the school's college office and helped students throughout the application process: from selecting a college to helping find scholarships and other financial aid. During that time, I learned A LOT about the college admissions process and developed a lot of strong opinions relating to the matter, including standardized testing (another subject that I will probably rant much about in the future).
Every year, the makers of the ACT test do this report on college readiness based on the scores achieved on their test for the previous year. They set benchmark scores for each subtest based on data they've collected. If you meet or exceed these marks, that say you are 50% likely to get at least a B in a corresponding college course and 75% likely to get at least a C. They are (college courses are in parentheses): 18 in English (Composition), 22 Math (Algebra), 21 Reading (Social Sciences), 24 Science (Biology). Now keep in mind that only about 49% of graduating seniors actually took the ACT in high school. But, based on 2010-2011 scores, guess what? Its another year of gains!!! We are getting better and more college ready! Good news, right?
Sure, except for the fact that only about 25% of that 49% actually hit the marks on all the subtests. Again, this is an improvement! The national rate has gone up a percentage point every year for the last for years now.
Now, things are slightly better here in California, where only 24% of graduating seniors took this test (which is still 99,000 students). However, 30% of the students taking the test hit all 4 benchmarks. This is a tiny dip from our continual upward rate over at least the past 5 years, but still better. Where California students most strongly outperformed the national average was on the Math test (go us!), where 57% hit the benchmark, compared to 45% nationally.
If you want to look at the data and the full report yourself: http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/cccr11/index.html I recommend everyone at least spend some time glancing around. There's a lot of implications with all of this data.
Every year, the makers of the ACT test do this report on college readiness based on the scores achieved on their test for the previous year. They set benchmark scores for each subtest based on data they've collected. If you meet or exceed these marks, that say you are 50% likely to get at least a B in a corresponding college course and 75% likely to get at least a C. They are (college courses are in parentheses): 18 in English (Composition), 22 Math (Algebra), 21 Reading (Social Sciences), 24 Science (Biology). Now keep in mind that only about 49% of graduating seniors actually took the ACT in high school. But, based on 2010-2011 scores, guess what? Its another year of gains!!! We are getting better and more college ready! Good news, right?
Sure, except for the fact that only about 25% of that 49% actually hit the marks on all the subtests. Again, this is an improvement! The national rate has gone up a percentage point every year for the last for years now.
Now, things are slightly better here in California, where only 24% of graduating seniors took this test (which is still 99,000 students). However, 30% of the students taking the test hit all 4 benchmarks. This is a tiny dip from our continual upward rate over at least the past 5 years, but still better. Where California students most strongly outperformed the national average was on the Math test (go us!), where 57% hit the benchmark, compared to 45% nationally.
If you want to look at the data and the full report yourself: http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/cccr11/index.html I recommend everyone at least spend some time glancing around. There's a lot of implications with all of this data.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Still Acting Like I'm in Elementary School
We had another project the other day. This one involved taking a set of 9 geometric shapes, forming a design not seen by your group members, then having the other group members attempt to mimic the design by description and direction. The results: I still need to work on following and giving directions.
On the plus side, it gives me an excuse to post another picture from my time last year working in 3rd grade. The classroom had a small bin full of these multi-colored tiles. I had counted out about 100 tiles for each kid one day so that they could design their dream houses (and we would display their plans for Open House). Well, since we had about 25 kids in the class, I thought that was a lot of tiles.
So after their project, instead of putting the tiles back in the bin, I did what any 20-something guy in a 3rd grade classroom would do: I started building a huge design. Unfortunately, it was not well placed, so I had to destroy it in the end before it got every far. So the next morning I re-built it (bigger of course), and made it slightly more educational: with a given range of about 1000 tiles, estimate how many I used up. The winning prize was a bag of Starbursts.
So let's say the range is between 1000-2000 tiles used up. Anyone want to guess? One of my 3rd graders got it within 3 tiles...
On the plus side, it gives me an excuse to post another picture from my time last year working in 3rd grade. The classroom had a small bin full of these multi-colored tiles. I had counted out about 100 tiles for each kid one day so that they could design their dream houses (and we would display their plans for Open House). Well, since we had about 25 kids in the class, I thought that was a lot of tiles.
So after their project, instead of putting the tiles back in the bin, I did what any 20-something guy in a 3rd grade classroom would do: I started building a huge design. Unfortunately, it was not well placed, so I had to destroy it in the end before it got every far. So the next morning I re-built it (bigger of course), and made it slightly more educational: with a given range of about 1000 tiles, estimate how many I used up. The winning prize was a bag of Starbursts.
So let's say the range is between 1000-2000 tiles used up. Anyone want to guess? One of my 3rd graders got it within 3 tiles...
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Why Math is Awesome
Today in class, we had a team project where we had to plot the graph of a bungee jumping Barbie. We took a Barbie doll and made a bungee cord out of several rubber bands. We measured how far she fell with 1 rubber band, 2 rubber bands, 3, etc. Then we created a graph showing the number of rubber bands v. how far she fell. Then to test to see if our graphs were correct, we launched Barbie off of a 16 ft.+ building ledge using the number of rubber bands according to the graph.
At this point, I should also mention that this was a competition between 3 teams of 3 in the class. If Barbie hit the ground, she died. Each team had to attach the number of rubber bands they thought would get Barbie closest to the ground without actually hitting it, giving her "the thrill of a lifetime."
Upon release of the dolls, one team's rope broke, so Ken literally dropped dead. That left the other two teams and as you can see, the results are nearly too close to call.
I have my guess on who won, but I'm posting up a video from the drop to let you all decide for yourselves. So let's hear it, who won?
At this point, I should also mention that this was a competition between 3 teams of 3 in the class. If Barbie hit the ground, she died. Each team had to attach the number of rubber bands they thought would get Barbie closest to the ground without actually hitting it, giving her "the thrill of a lifetime."
Upon release of the dolls, one team's rope broke, so Ken literally dropped dead. That left the other two teams and as you can see, the results are nearly too close to call.
I have my guess on who won, but I'm posting up a video from the drop to let you all decide for yourselves. So let's hear it, who won?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
First Question
A huge vat is 1/5 full of water. If 40 gallons of water are added, the vat will be 1/3 full. How many gallons of water does the vat hold when filled to the top?
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