Jon Tator

Project Abstract

This is the first project that I give my incoming freshmen. At the end of the first week, students choose a small image from the internet, and figure out how to enlarge the image to fit onto a regular sheet of graph paper.

What did you teach and how did you teach it?

Through this project, I wanted to cover several algebra basics, but I also wanted to have the students get used to the process of refinement and critique.

The math concepts that the students explored are:

• 1. Fractions

  2. Ratios & Scales

Artistically, I think it is important for students to create an impressive enlarged image in a process where it is difficult to make mistakes (as long as they follow the correct steps).

I have found the best way to teach this first project is by showing models from previous years. When they see a finished piece of art where a student enlarges a picture perfectly to perhaps 9x bigger, they get excited and want to create something with the same level of quality.

What concepts and skills did the students gain in this class through this project?

Besides the actual math content, the biggest concept taken away from this project is that Refinement. Most students are eager to make a cool illustration, but they make minor mistakes on their first draft. I try to be very diligent and look at each enlargement for any errors, no matter how small.

Once they recognize the first error and fix it, most students will go through the rest of the image themselves before showing me for a final approval.

Basically, they learn to critique their own work and then refine it based on what they noticed.

How is the curriculum for this project academically rich and grade-level challenging?

This project was meant to review math concepts that students had learned in previous years. Most students had learned the content, but were happy to have a chance to review fractions and ratios before going on to other areas.

I think the main challenge for the students was not mathematical, but to make their enlargement as high quality as possible. Of course the math was worked through and checked, but not settling for 'good enough' is what pushed them.

To what extent was there integration across disciplines in your class through this project?

For this initial project, there was no integration with Humanities. My teaching partner and I decided to each do our own separate projects at the beginning of the year.

Which Habits of Heart and Mind (HoHM) and Design Principles were utilized in this project?

The main Habits which the students worked on Refinement and Perseverance. They had many opportunities throughout the process to refine their scale drawings and make them as high quality as possible. When refining work, perseverance naturally goes hand-in-hand, as the student needs to keep up the effort and not settle for average.

How did you incorporate refinement through this project?

As I stated above, refinement was one of the main aspects of this project. The final product would not be nearly as good if we didn't build in time (in class and at home) to look closely over the work and then improve it.