DanaData Python Math Program

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  Course Title: Modeling and Simulation Foundations

  Course Number: 9005210

  Career Cluster: Information Technology

  CIP: 0511080401

  Course Type: CAR-PREP

  Benchmark Notes:

  CTE-IT.912.9005210.1.2 - Identify disciplines which use modeling and simulation tools and discuss their real-world applications.

  Integrated Benchmarks:

  MA.912.AR.2.1. - Given a real-world context, write and solve one-variable multi-step linear equations.

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson is designed to be used with case study, "DanaData Python Math Program." See CPALMS Resource ID# 219076.

• Career Connection

  
  

  Students will simulate the role of a software developer, programmer, or data scientist. Students will engage in a real-world application of using the Python programming language to build a math software application related to linear equations. Students will use the durable skill of creativity to learn how simulating a career as programmer to generate a software application can foster new ideas with the aim of addressing business challenges.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students can do the following:

  • Identify algebra in mathematics as a discipline in which simulation tools can be used.
  • Demonstrate how to solve a linear equation using a student created computer program.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with/able to:

  • Variables, Graphing, Algebraic Expressions, Rate of Change/Slope, Linear Equations.
  • Familiar with Python programming language.

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • How might programmers use math in their careers?
  • What algorithm (or steps) can be used in the Python program to model linear equations?
  • How can programming help with solving linear equations in slope-intercept form?

• Procedure

  
  
  1. When introducing the case study, ask students how they think education might use modeling and simulations, or where they have seen modeling and simulations used in education.
  2. Provide each student with graph paper and notebook paper. Students can fold the graph paper as 4 X 4 quadrants. Unfold and mark the center as the origin (0, 0).
  3. As a guided activity, create an x/y table on the notebook paper and plot points on graph paper. Plot a total of 4 points: for example, (-5, -4), (-3, -2), (-1, 0), (1, 2), (3, 4). Plotting up to 5 points is sufficient.
  4. Provide students with a copy of the case study, DanaData Python Math Program (See CPALMS Resource ID# 207741).
  5. Ask students the following discussion questions,
     • “What steps are involved in building a simulation that will help students understand linear equations?”
     • “What are the similarities between Diane’s algorithm and the steps we did at the beginning of class?”
     • “How can modeling linear equations benefit programming?
     • What is the proposed algorithm (or steps) in the Python program to model linear equations?
  6. Start a guided activity for student to open their Visual Studio Code IDE and to simulate Diane’s role as programmer. Distribute the paper copies of the code to each student for them to type into VS Code. There are comments at the beginning of the program about file management. Students will type the entire program including comments.
  7. Once students finished typing the program, tell students to run (execute) the program and enter the points from the beginning of the lesson. Ask students to create and solve a linear equation based on the points in the model. You may have additional x/y tables with values for students to input into the program to plot points. Student pairs may be created to solve the problem as a team.
  8. Before closing the lesson, return discussion to the case study and ask about the real-world application of using math in programming.
     • How does this program help with linear equations?
     • Is there another way Diane could have designed this program to model linear equations?
  9. To close the lesson, conduct a summarizing activity, such as an exit ticket, or whole group discussion for students to answer the following reflection questions:
     • What additional math content can be added to the Python program?
     • If you were a software developer and had to create a math educational game, what is the topic and how would you design your program?

• Teacher Notes

  
  
  1. To carry out this lesson, note that all software is free (Visual Studio Code and Python Interpreter) Make sure to print out copies of the PPT slides containing the code and provide a copy to each student after the case study discussion.
  2. Before starting the lesson, it is important for students to have their own computer with the Python interpreter Using your web browser, go to Python.org to install the latest version of the Python interpreter.
  3. It is recommended to use Visual Studio Code, updated version or an equivalent application, as the IDE (Integrated Development Environment for Windows and Mac users). keywords, ‘How to Install Tkinter in VS Code on Windows or Mac’.
  4. Install the ‘tkinter’ package to create a graphical user interface by entering in the VS Code terminal, ‘pip install tkinter’ (do not include single quotes). Add the Pip install extension in Visual Studio Code may help with the tkinter package. If you need help with installing tkinter you can watch help videos on You Tube using search terms or keyword, “How to install Tkinter in VS Code”.
  5. Turtle is a built-in Python package. The installation and any troubleshooting should be conducted a day before the lesson.
  6. Prepare screenshots or images as code snips or segments for students to manually type in the program. This will avoid students from copying and pasting the code. Manually entering the code will provide the benefit of fully understanding the role of a programmer (entering code, understanding Python language and troubleshooting (debugging) skills).
  7. An example of graph paper for the Python program background image can be found at:

     https://openclipart.org/detail/184566/graph-paper#google_vignette