Intro. to Secondary Mathematics 

Goals 

This semester is a brand new start and I had already prepared to work on tasks. We are going to learn Algebra, which is something easy to me. But I've heard the teacher said that we're gonna do some coding, so that's what I can focus on. I am not confident at coding since i can't even understand some basic coding lenguage. 

Week 1-6 

In my GSP Mathematics portfolio for weeks 1–6, we were working on algebra and a research project about the geometry of Ancient Greece. At the beginning of this portfolio, I set three semester goals on March 11. My first goal is to improve my algebra skills by practicing collecting like terms and solving equations more often. My second goal is to make my work more organized, so I will write each step clearly and label them. My third goal is to participate more in class by trying to answer questions and join discussions. During this time, we learned collecting like terms, solving linear equations, and doing algebra word problems. I think doing class activities helps me understand faster than just doing homework, because I can see the steps clearly. In week 6, I think I made progress because I can now solve equations step by step and simplify expressions, but sometimes I still make small mistakes because I work too fast. This also connects to my other classes. For example, in geography PBL we needed to organize information and present it clearly, which is similar to how I need to show my math steps clearly. It also connects to English class because we need to explain our thinking in a clear and logical way. It also connects to my previous math class, where I first learned basic algebra, but now I understand it better and can use it in different problems. In the research project, we learned about the geometry of Ancient Greece. I studied Pythagoras and the Pythagorean Theorem, and also Euclid and his book Elements. The most interesting thing I learned is that these ideas were made a long time ago but are still used today. For example, the Pythagorean Theorem can be used in building, engineering, and finding distance. The most challenging part was organizing the information because there was a lot, but I solved it by looking at different sources and rewriting in my own words. I think the skill I improved the most is organizing and explaining ideas. If I had more time, I would add more pictures and examples to make it easier to understand. This project changed how I think about math because I realized math is not just formulas, but something we use in real life. I also got feedback from my friend that my slides had too much text, so I changed it by using less words and adding more visuals. I think my work can still be improved in three parts. First is my organization, sometimes my steps are not clear, so next time I will label each step. Second is accuracy, I need to check my answers more carefully to avoid small mistakes. Third is my presentation, I need to use more pictures instead of only words. One area of growth in my study habits is that I need to slow down and focus more, so my plan is to check my work and practice every day. Next time, I want to finish my work in class because I found that sometimes I am too slow or not focused enough. So next time I will try to stay active, manage my time better, and finish my work faster. Overall, this portfolio shows that I am improving and learning from my mistakes.

In my GSP Mathematics portfolio for weeks 7 to 13, we were working on an algebra planning project and coding activities using Scratch. At the start of this semester, my goals were to improve my algebra skills and to organize my work more clearly. In week 13, I think I made progress because I can now use algebra concepts in real life situations and explain my thoughts more clearly. I also became more confident with coding and problem solving. For the algebra planning project, our driving question was “How can we as event planners use algebra to help us make realistic plans and smart financial decisions for an event?” My partner (Ethan) and I created an event called “Wild Challenge.” We used algebra to calculate costs and planned an event under a 30,000 NTD budget. The hardest part of modelling was organizing fixed costs and variable costs correctly. Math can help us compare different options and decide which choices were more cost-effective. If the budget increased to 50,000 NTD, I would probably add more activities or improve the meal option. I also learned that the number of participants changes which option is the cheapest because some costs increase faster than others. During coding class, we completed Scratch activities and learned how coding connects to math and logical thinking. Writing code is similar to solving a math problem because both require step-by-step thinking and checking for mistakes carefully. One thing that surprised me was how one small coding mistake could completely change the output, which is similar to making a small mistake in algebra. Before learning Scratch, I could not create interactive games, but now I can make sprites move and keep score. This portfolio also connects to my other classes. In English class, we explain our thinking clearly, which is similar to showing math steps clearly. It also connects to PBL because teamwork and planning are important in both projects. This work also connects to my previous math portfolio because earlier in the semester we learned solving equations, and in this project I used those skills in a real-life budgeting situation. I also received feedback from my classmates that my budget explanation was confusing. After hearing this feedback, I labeled my equations and explanations more clearly. I think my work can still improve in three areas. First, I need to check my calculations more carefully. Second, I need to manage my time better in class. Third, I want to add more pictures and graphs instead of mostly text. Overall, this portfolio shows that I improved my algebra, coding, and problem solving skills during weeks 7 to 13.