Challenge & Selection

The challenge I did is to apply Visualization to teach a group of Grade 7 students about Algebra which  causes failed grades and wasted lessons. For a 5th year college student like me I think this will be a great  opportunity to make younger students who find themselves incapable of doing higher level  mathematics. When I was their age (11-12 years old), I really found algebra hard and uninteresting since  I am not fond of analyzing complex equations in terms of variables that causes my algebra roots to be  weak. I haven’t felt the effect of not fully understanding of algebra since I came to my first year of  college where I am ashamed that I cannot do simple algebra computations when I am asked to. I  struggled to pass the course at that year where I found myself trying hard to study in rush to cope up  with the lessons. Learning in rush is not that efficient and reflected obviously at my grade where almost  all my classmates end up having an average of 1.5-1 while me barely making it to 2.5 after the end of the  semester. Realizing that this is an issue that I can do something for others, I used Storytelling to let them  learn Algebra in a fun and effective way.

Application

The first thing that I did was to ask the children what they usually do when they are at home and find  the common things that I can relate and create a story with. The students (4 boys) are typical boys who  plays computer games and watch anime frequently. They are playful and curious to the new trends  spreading in the online community.

The first lesson I thought was how to add and subtract variables. The typical x+x=2x, x+2x+y=3x+y and  etc., is so easy for us to understand since we are used to these operations but the students can’t  understand how why such expressions results to another. The first Visualization I used is to relate x and  y to blocks in Minecraft. Since they are confused why x’s and y’s results to such when added and  subtracted I told them to imagine every single gravel block is a x and every single wooden block is a y.  Stacking the blocks even alternating results to obvious difference and they understand how x and y  differs to each other and how can they be added. They were confused how for example is x + 2x results  to 3x while y + 2x results to still y + 2x. But now, by remembering that each x and y is a different block  they can now combine the variables properly.

These students despite of being a poor to average student in algebra can do simple mathematical  operations. This made it easier to teach them more since all I did was to think of things they are enjoying  with and interested with and relate it to the computations. At the end of the day adding, subtracting,  multiplying and dividing simple algebraic expressions are made easier for them since instead of them  seeing these equations that they previously feared, now they see these equations with creative visions  that can help them do the operations quickly and properly.

This is just a head start yet this is one of the most important part of their learning. For them to have a  vision that will help them understand simple algebraic expressions will lead to further realization that  the complex lessons they are about to tackle won’t be that hard anymore since all they need to do is  imagine and think of a creative way to analyze how it is being done.

Insight & Approach

What I learned was that things are better understood when we can see and relate to it. How it works,  moves, change even without literally seeing but even just imagining it. Visualization is a helpful tool for  things that are hard to comprehend yet can be integrated to something relatable. For the students  having something to imagine to is a huge help for they are not lost in the topic because this relatable  thing that they are very familiar with is now used to solve their problem. They can quickly relate these  equations to visions which they made and as time pass by they are the one who are teaching themselves  as well as answering their own doubts and questions.

The experiment shows various realization that for Visualization to effectively work for young ones it is  not impossible for the Professionals to use it once again to further understand things in the field as they  discuss or understand. Even though my experiment is far beyond design thinking, I believe, for me as a  developing person that aims to be a professional will uphold the Visualization technique as I move  forward to the industry and use it to convince people as well as make them realize what I am trying to  say as I pitch to them my ideas.


Challenge & Selection The challenge I did is to apply Visualization to teach a group of Grade 7 students about Algebra which causes failed grades and wasted lessons . For a 5th year college student like me I think this will be a great opportunity to make younger students who find themselves incapable of doing higher level mathematics . When I was their age ( 11 - 12 years old ) , I really found algebra hard and uninteresting since I am not fond of analyzing complex equations in terms of variables that causes my algebra roots to be weak . I have n’t felt the effect of not fully understanding of algebra since I came to my first year of college where I am ashamed that I can not do simple algebra computations when I am asked to . I struggled to pass the course at that year where I found myself trying hard to study in rush to cope up with the lessons . Learning in rush is not that efficient and reflected obviously at my grade where almost all my classmates end up having an average of 1.5 - 1 while me barely making it to 2.5 after the end of the semester . Realizing that this is an issue that I can do something for others , I used Storytelling to let them learn Algebra in a fun and effective way . Application The first thing that I did was to ask the children what they usually do when they are at home and find the common things that I can relate and create a story with . The students ( 4 boys ) are typical boys who plays computer games and watch anime frequently . They are playful and curious to the new trends spreading in the online community . The first lesson I thought was how to add and subtract variables . The typical x+x=2x , x+2x+y=3x+y and etc . , is so easy for us to understand since we are used to these operations but the students ca n’t understand how why such expressions results to another . The first Visualization I used is to relate x and y to blocks in Minecraft . Since they are confused why x ’s and y ’s results to such when added and subtracted I told them to imagine every single gravel block is a x and every single wooden block is a y. Stacking the blocks even alternating results to obvious difference and they understand how x and y differs to each other and how can they be added . They were confused how for example is x + 2x results to 3x while y + 2x results to still y + 2x . But now , by remembering that each x and y is a different block they can now combine the variables properly . These students despite of being a poor to average student in algebra can do simple mathematical operations . This made it easier to teach them more since all I did was to think of things they are enjoying with and interested with and relate it to the computations . At the end of the day adding , subtracting , multiplying and dividing simple algebraic expressions are made easier for them since instead of them seeing these equations that they previously feared , now they see these equations with creative visions that can help them do the operations quickly and properly . This is just a head start yet this is one of the most important part of their learning . For them to have a vision that will help them understand simple algebraic expressions will lead to further realization that the complex lessons they are about to tackle wo n’t be that hard anymore since all they need to do is imagine and think of a creative way to analyze how it is being done . Insight & Approach What I learned was that things are better understood when we can see and relate to it . How it works , moves , change even without literally seeing but even just imagining it . Visualization is a helpful tool for things that are hard to comprehend yet can be integrated to something relatable . For the students having something to imagine to is a huge help for they are not lost in the topic because this relatable thing that they are very familiar with is now used to solve their problem . They can quickly relate these equations to visions which they made and as time pass by they are the one who are teaching themselves as well as answering their own doubts and questions . The experiment shows various realization that for Visualization to effectively work for young ones it is not impossible for the Professionals to use it once again to further understand things in the field as they discuss or understand . Even though my experiment is far beyond design thinking , I believe , for me as a developing person that aims to be a professional will uphold the Visualization technique as I move forward to the industry and use it to convince people as well as make them realize what I am trying to say as I pitch to them my ideas .