Final Algebra I Video Project

Objective:
For this project students will present a mathematical concept that we studied this year in Algebra I in the format of a video or skit. The project should be recorded on video/DVD and a written script provided. The content of the project can be presented four different ways (teach a concept, interview a person who uses a concept in real life, present a gimmick to help students remember a concept, or explain why a student needs to learn algebra) A project may have 1 to 4 members within the same class, however, you may recruit “extra’s” to be in your video that are not in your class or even in Algebra. Worth 100 points.

Project Includes:
Rubric given to students, possible video topics, and final comment sheet each group member must complete. I have also included a few former students' videos and PowerPoints so you can show your classes a few examples until you build your own examples.

Hints/Suggestions/Teacher Thoughts:
This is a project that I created for my Honors Algebra I 9th grade class. It could easily be used for any math course that students have the ability to create a video. My students attend a public optional (magnet) high school in Memphis Tennessee.

I have taught high school math for over 25 years. I am not the most literate when it comes to making a video. I started by asking for suggestions from other teachers at my school which helped me to get started. I started the project in 2013 and boy was I amazed. I decided to make the project optional instead of required so that I wasn’t grading so many projects on the last few days of school. I assign the project during the few days after my students take their EOC (end of course) test. They have about 2 weeks to come up with a video. I give a short exam on the exam day and the students watch the students’ videos after they finish the exam. We have a nice time laughing and being amazed at what they come up with and although there haven’t been as many as good ones as I have seen on YouTube.com I am proud that they made an attempt. Last year I made a list of possible video topics hoping they would do more than the Pythagorean Theorem, but it still didn’t help too much. I think this year they will have to sign up for a topic and I will limit each topic to no more than two. Also last year I said they couldn’t work from students in a different class but I think I will allow that this year.