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Overview & Goals
This resources acts as an instructional guide for teachers to implement the Chasing Einstein Challenge in their own math classroom. This guide provides the learners (mathematics teachers) with instruction and resources on gaining knowledge of the math practice standards, information on the gamification model, and instruction on differentiation among grade and ability levels.
To begin, the Chasing Einstein Challenge is a nice week gamification framework that aims to help students work on becoming creative and persistent problem solvers. The Chasing Einstein Challenge focuses on building a math mindset through discussion, reflection, and practice with the math practice standards. The challenge can be used early on in the school year to open up discussion about good math habits. Math Practice Standards
Additional resources:
Gamification Model
Survey
The Chasing Einstein Challenge utilizes a pre and post survey in order to see progression of students' mathematical mindset. This survey includes fifteen Likert scale questions and three short answer questions. Students respond to the Likert scale questions with the statement that best reflects their opinion. This survey is not meant to be used as a grading assessment, but instead it offers insight into students' attitudes and beliefs about math. You can make a copy of the Google Form (watch this how-to video) or download the survey as a PDF. Activities The Chasing Einstein Challenge takes place over a nine week period. Each week your students spend 45 to 60 minutes dedicated to the challenge. The weekly tasks consist of watching a math practice video, problem solving with a math challenge, and answering a few reflection questions. You can decide if you would like your students to work individually, in pairs, or within a team. The framework includes:
Students will earn Einstein Points (EPs) for their attitude, effort, progress, and reflection during Chasing Einstein. The goal is to earn as many EPs as possible. The team with the highest average of EPs at the end of the nice week challenge will be crowned the champion. Earning Points Students can earn EPs each week for their attitude and effort, math challenge progress, and reflection questions. It is important to not put the emphasis on speed and level of ability, but instead on progress, attitude, effort and teamwork. Therefore, it is useful to discuss with your students earn points, so they understand that math is not about speed and consists of many other skills.
and includes others, and works hard to persevere when facing a challenge. 40 EPs: Student is consistently ready to participate, supports others, and maintains a positive attitude. 30 EPs: Student will participate with prompting, depends on their team or motivation, and carries a somewhat positive attitude. 20 EPs: Student will participate with much prompting, occasionally disrupts their team members, and carries a negative attitude. 10 EPs: Student does not participate, disrupts their team members, is unwilling to participate, and carries a negative attitude.
more examples of their work. 40 EPs: Student explains their thinking by providing one example of their work. 30 EPs: Student somewhat explains their thinking and does not provide a concrete example of their work. 20 EPs: Student minimally explains their thinking and does not provide an example of their work. 10 EPs: Student does not answer the question. Leaderboard A leaderboard can be a useful way to keep students aware of their team standing while providing motivation to keep working hard in order to gain EPs for their team. It is important to not post individual scores, instead focus on the team score and the impact that each student has in raising their leaderboard position. There are many options when it comes to using a leaderboard to show individual and team progress. Google Sheets provides various graphs that can be created from the data input. Additionally, Pikocharts has the ability to connect with a Google Sheet and display the team points in a variety of ways. Explore a couple options and choose what will be manageable and useful for your situation. Check out our leaderboard for an idea. Additionally, a scoring sheet can be organized with student and team names along with weekly points. Feel free to make a copy of this scoring sheet in order to customize it according to your classroom. Differentiation
The Chasing Einstein Challenge can be modified to fit many grade levels through the math practice standards, gamification model, and the math challenges.
First, the math practice standards are consistent across all grade levels. Therefore, the Math Practice Videos can be beneficial for all students. Additionally, you can provide further discussion on how the math practice standards apply within their grade level content through discussion on examples of recent learning. Second, the gamification model as discussed above follows a weekly layout of watching and discussing the math practice video, working on the math challenge for approximately 40 minutes, and then answering a few questions to reflect on their mathematical thinking. This model provides flexibility in how you choose to use the resources. For example, you can choose to watch the video as a whole class and then begin a discussion about how your students have worked with a math practice standard and how it helps them establish a math mindset. Additionally, the math challenge work time can be adjusted to fit the needs of your students. Lastly, the questions listed at the end of each weekly module can be answered individually, within teams, or through a whole class discussion. These questions provide students with a chance to think about their thinking, so it is also beneficial to hear thoughts from other students. Third, the math challenges provide a wide range of differentiation for ability levels. Each of the math challenges are low-floor, high-ceiling activities which provide every student an opportunity to work at their own level. These tasks provide students with a starting point that allows them to experience success and build confidence while working towards more challenging mathematics. Essentially, all students can begin at the starting point for each math challenge. As each challenge is a bit different, refer to our Math Challenges page for a short overview video, applicable mathematical concepts, and general starting points for your content level. |
