Dear Students,
Problem of the Week (POW) present you with an opportunity to investigate complex, interesting problems. Their purpose is to focus on the process of solving complex problems. You will be evaluated on your ability to show, explain, and justify your work and thoughts. Save all of your work, including what does not work, in order to write about the processes you used to reach your answer.
Completion of a POW includes four parts:
Problem Statement: State the problem clearly in your own words so that anyone reading your paper will understand the problem you intend to solve.
Process and Solutions: Describe in detail your thinking and reasoning as you work from start to finish. Explain your solution and how you know it is correct. Add diagrams when it helps your explanation. Include what you do that does not work and changes you make along the way. If you do not complete this problem, describe what you do know and where and why you are stuck.
Reflection: Reflect about your learning and your reaction to the problem. How do you prove is your solution is correct? What mathematics did you learn from it? What did you learn about your math problem solving strategies? Is this problem similar to any other problems you have done before? If yes, how?
Attached work: Include all your work and notes. Your scratch work is important because it is a record of your thinking. Do not throw anything away.
What is the purpose of doing POWs? In order for students to develop their problem solving, reasoning, and communication skills.
When are POWs due? They are due every Tuesday at the beginning of class.
How many POWs do I have to do? There are 10 POWs plus (POW #0) assigned for Fall Semester. There will be some assigned for Spring as well.
How do POWs affect my grade? POWs accounts for 10% of your semester grade - one learning target.
I don't know how to solve the POWs. What do I do? Complete the assignment the best you can. If you're stuck, describe what you do know and where and why you are stuck.
I thought I did everything right. Why did I only get a 3? The most common reason students earn a grade of a 3 is because they didn't provide a reasonable argument. Here are some arguments that may appear weak.
I know my answer is correct because...
I double checked my work.
I used a calculator.
I worked with my father (or cousin, or classmate etc.)
I followed all the steps.
Why did I get a zero? The most common reason students earn a grade of a 0 is because they copied the question exactly rather than writing in their own words.
Is there anything else I need to know? This is called problem of the week for a reason. It is expected that you put in time and effort into this to demonstrate your problem solving, reasoning, and communication skills. If you try to complete your POWs the night before it is due, there is a good chance you'll not earn a good grade.
The problem is clearly stated with enough information so that someone who has not seen the problem would know what the POW was all about.
The explanation of how you solved the problem is clear and complete. All mathematical computations are indicated. Any tables or diagrams are included. You completely explain what you did and why.
Your solution is correct and you have a convincing argument as to why your solution is correct. You were thoughtful in your reflection of math concepts and problem solving strategies.
There are slight omissions in the problem statement that would prevent someone from understanding it completely without referring to the original POW.
There are slight gaps in your explanation of how you solved the problem, or you didn't show all of your work, or you failed to include all necessary charts and/or diagrams.
Your solution is correct and you have a adequate argument as to why your solution is correct. reflection of math concepts and problem solving strategies is adequate.
The problem statement is incomplete.
Your explanation of how you solved the problem is neither complete nor clearly stated.
Your solution is correct but you don't have a convincing argument as to why your solution is correct, or your attempt to justify an incorrect solution has slight flaws. Your reflection of math concepts and problem solving strategies is inadequate.
The problem statement is incomplete.
Your explanation of how you solved the process shows very little thought.
Your solution is incorrect and you make very little attempt to justify your solution. You didn't provide a thoughtful reflection.
You did not submit the work or you're submitting after the class went over the assignment in class.
You wrote your statement of the problem verbatim.