Task of the Week: A Giant from University

In Freiburg, student teacher Meryem Moll has created the task “The giant in front of the Albert-Ludwig University” which we present today. The aim of the task is to estimate the size of a statue: How tall would the statue pictured be if it stood up?  In the following interview, Meryem Moll talks about her studies, MathCityMap and the task.

How did you come across the MathCityMap project? How do you use MCM?

I came across the MCM app while searching for a topic for my bachelor’s thesis in mathematics at the University of Education in Freiburg in the bachelor’s degree for primary education.

I am very interested in the meaningful use of digital media in elementary school as well as gamification of lessons, which is why my supervising lecturer made me aware of the MCM project.  My bachelor thesis was about how the process-related competencies “problem solving” and “modeling” can be promoted already in elementary school with the help of the MCM app.

I think working with the app is great, especially because it is also very naturally structured and easy to use, which is why I also think it can be used profitably for elementary school students. For my future teaching as a math teacher, it’s important to me that the children see a personal benefit and meaning behind the math tasks at school or in math in general, and that they apply them to their own learning. This is something that apps like the MCM app can contribute to enormously, as students nowadays grow up with digital media and these can be used in such a meaningful way.

What can the children learn by solving the task?

In the task “The giant in front of the Albert-Ludwig University”, I was concerned with the learners being able to decide which parts of the statue’s body are relevant for measuring the height of the body, as well as the correct use of or handling of measuring devices (meter stick/tape measure).

In addition, the children should use their previous ideas of size with the task by first estimating the size of the giant and then also comparing it with their own height through a personal reference. In general, however, I was primarily concerned that the children should be able to experience application-based math lessons with the help of the trail and learn to transfer the “theory” from the classroom to reality, thereby deepening their understanding of it.