Tracking Your Favorite Web Sites
Tom O'Malley
Introduction
Standards
Objectives
Activities
Assessment 
Results
Resources

When I surf, I ride

My choice of wetsuit is

  


.
 Introduction
Students will track their favorite web sites.  the web sites must have counters.  They will track these web sites for twenty days, recording the number of hits the web site has had.  After the twenty days,  they will produce a chart on Excel of the data.  These charts will be pasted into a Power Point presentation and emailed to the instructor.
Subject:  Algebra I
Topic:  Functions
Grade Level: 7-9
Student Lesson name and URL:  SURF THE NET, BABY!
http://www.ctap295.ctaponlie.org/~tomalley/student
Standards Addressed

CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS  ALGEBRA I

16.0 Students understand the concepts of a relation and a function, determine
whether a given relation defines a function, and give pertinent information about
given relations and functions.

SCANS COMPETENCIES

Arithmetic --Performs basic computations; uses basic numerical concepts such as whole numbers and percentages in practical situations; makes reasonable estimates
of arithmetic results without a calculator; and uses tables, graphs, diagrams, and charts to obtain or convey quantitative information. 

Mathematics--Approaches practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques; uses quantitative data to construct logical
explanations for real world situations; expresses mathematical ideas and concepts orally and in writing; and understands the role of chance in the occurrence and
prediction of events. 

WILLOWS HIGH SCHOOL EXPECTED OUTCOMES (WEO'S)

Effective communicators who will: 
  express complex ideas through writing and speaking
  read, write, speak, and listen reflectively, competently, and critically
  articulate ideas clearly, creatively, and effectively through oral, written, and artistic
  expression

Technologically literate individuals who will:
  demonstrate working knowledge of career appropriate technology
  demonstrate competence in use of a computer, using applications, and efficiently
  navigating the internet
  use technology to acquire, evaluate, organize, manipulate, interpret, and
  communicate data

Problem solvers and critical/creative thinkers who will:
  demonstrate application of learned skills in work samples and real life scenarios
  identify, access, analyze, integrate, and utilize available resources and information
  show initiative and solve problems independently, as well as with a group
  identify problems, find solutions, and evaluate consequences
  develop plans to achieve self-initiated personal, academic, and career goals

Socially responsible individuals who will:
  demonstrate habits of punctuality and reliability

Post secondary prepared individuals who will:
  have mastered core academic knowledge
  identify, analyze, and apply information to establish career path options
  complete necessary course work leading to entry level job skills
 
 

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Instructional Objectives
  1. Students will be able to effectively navigate the internet using search engines.
  2. Students will be able to use a spreadsheet program.
  3. Students will be able to use Power Point.
  4. Students will be able to use email.
  5. Students will understand how functions work.
  6. Students will be able to identify linear and exponential functions.
  7. Students will understand how to plot points on a graph.
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Student Activities

Introductory Activity
Students will be given a choice:  would you rather have a job that started out at $1 per week and doubled every week, or would you rather have a job that started at $10 per week, then increased by $5 per week?
Data will be collected and charted using this chart.  A pretest will also be given.

Enabling Activity
Students will find three web sites with counters.  They will track these web sites for twenty days, making one observation per day.  These observations will be recorded on an observation sheet.

Culminating Activity
Students will take the data they have collected and create graphs using Microsoft Excel.  These graphs will then be pasted into a Power Point presentation.  This will be emailed to the instructor by the due date.
Students will then take a Post-Test.

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Assessment
Students will create a Power Point presentation.  This will be emailed to the instructor by the due date.  It will be graded by this rubric.
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Results
After implementing your lesson (sometime between January & March), insert a chart of your pre-test, post-test, and culminating assessment data.
 
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Web Resources & Supplementary Materials

Introductory Activity
Click here for the job tracking sheet.
Click here for the Pre-Test.

Enabling Activity
Here is a site with a counter.
Here is the web site tracking sheet.

Culminating Activity
For tutorial on Excel, click here.
For a tutorial on Power Point, click here.
For the Post-Test, click here.
For a sample presentation, click here.

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Tom O'Malley 
Willows High School 
Willows, CA  95988 
tomalley@wunif.k12.ca.us
Last Revised: 06/16/2000