Contextualized Intermediate Algebra

Description:

This collection of curriculum, from Norwalk Community College, includes a set of activities and application problems for intermediate algebra classes. These materials are intended to promote STEM majors and careers for students, especially to women in the course. The idea behind this curriculum "is to spark curiosity and perhaps a willingness to try something new, all at a time when students are deciding what direction to take their studies and careers." The included activities are divided into the following lessons: Systems of Equations, Exponents, Factoring, Rational Expressions, Radicals, and Quadratic Equations. 

Contents:

Curriculum materials include the following for each lesson: an instructor guide, student activity handouts, and practice problems. A 1-page Introduction document is also included that provides context for the lessons.

The instructor guides include an introduction to the lesson, an activity that provides a real life connection, a list of materials, discussion questions, additional activities, practice problems, and more.

For orientation purposes 1.1 Instructor Guide - Systems of Equations.pdf is included as a separate attachment and offers a sample of the type of material included in this curriculum. 

Below is a list of the files contained within the .zip attachment. The size of each file is included in parenthesis. 

Contextualized Intermediate Algebra (40 files, 12.1 MB)

• 0 - Introduction: Context of Math in Context (0 - Introduction.docx 16 KB)
• 1 - Systems of Equations
  • 1.1 Instructor Guide - Systems of Equations (1.1 Instructor Guide - Systems of Equations.docx 2.2 MB)
  • 1.2 Why l love Algebra - Student Handout (1.2 Why l love Algebra - Student Handout.docx 1.7 MB)
  • 1.3 Jack Reacher - Student Handout (1.3 Jack Reacher - student handout.docx 204 KB)
  • 1.4 Oreo Activity - Student Handout (1.4 Oreo Activity - Student Handout.docx 409 KB)
  • 1.5 Practice Exercises - Student Handout (1.5 Practice Exercises - Student Handout.docx 97 KB)
• 2 - Exponents
  • 2.1 Instructor Guide - Exponential Expressions (2.1 Instructor Guide - Exponential Expressions.docx 91 KB)
  • 2.2.1 One Grain of Rice Story - Student Handout (2.2.1 One Grain of Rice Story - Student Handout.docx 96 KB)
  • 2.2.2 One Grain of Rice Story and Activity Sheet - Student Handout (2.2.2 One Grain of Rice Story and Activity Sheet - Student Handout.docx 102 KB)
  • 2.3 Pandemic - Student Handout (2.3 Pandemic - Student Handout.docx 144 KB)
  • 2.4 Jack Reacher (2.4 Jack Reacher.docx 17 KB)
  • 2.5 Exponential Expression Practice Problems (2.5 Exponential Expression Practice Problems.docx 23 KB)
• 3 - Factoring
  • 3.1 - Instructors Guide - Factoring (3.1 - Instructors Guide - Factoring.docx 927 KB)
  • 3.2 - Perfect Fit & Extending the Lesson (3.2 - Perfect Fit & Extending the Lesson.docx 222 KB)
  • 3.3 - Number Games (3.3 - Number Games.docx 51 KB)
  • 3.4 - Golden Gate Bridge (3.4 - Golden Gate Bridge.docx 397 KB)
  • 3.5 - Unsafe Sidewalk (3.5 - Unsafe Sidewalk.docx 77 KB)
  • 3.6 - Practice Exercises (3.6 - Practice Exercises.docx 520 KB)
• 4 - Rational Expressions
  • 4.1 Instructor Guide - Rationals (4.1 Instructor Guide - Rationals.docx 165 KB)
  • 4.2 Climate Change - Intro to Rational Expressions (4.2 Climate Change - Intro to Rational Expressions.docx 681 KB)
  • 4.3 Restricted Values (4.3 Restricted Values.docx 33 KB)
  • 4.4 Rational Expressions Practice (4.4 Rational Expressions Practice.docx 23 KB)
  • 4.5 Rational Applications Practice (4.5 Rational Applications Practice.docx 72 KB)
• 5 - Radicals
  • 5.1 Instructors Guide - Radicals (5.1 Instructors Guide - Radicals.docx 1.5 MB)
  • 5.2 Pollution Plume (5.2 Pollution Plume.docx 870 KB)
  • 5.3 Velocity vs Height (5.3 Velocity vs Height.docx 435 KB)
  • 5.4 Radical Practice Problems - Evaluating (5.4 Radical Practice Problems - Evaluating.docx 27 KB)
  • 5.5 Water Storage (5.5 Water Storage.docx 342 KB)
  • 5.6 Radical Practice Problems - Equations (5.6 Radical Practice Problems - Equations.docx 22 KB)
• 6 - Quadratic Equations
  • 6.1 Instructors Guide - Quadratics Revisited (6.1 Instructors Guide - Quadratics Revisited.docx 307 KB)
  • 6.2 Rectangle Dimensions (6.2 Rectangle Dimensions.docx 19 KB)
  • 6.3 Photograph Cropping (6.3 Photograph Cropping.docx 232 KB)
  • 6.4 Quadratics Revisited Practice (6.4 Quadratics Revisited Practice.docx 48 KB)