November 7 Day 244: Creative Challenge Unlocked

On November 4, I promised my students an alternate path to success that did not require them to complete this week’s timed online assessment because, let’s face it…this was quite a week. Tonight I finally wrapped my head around my promise and came up with four options:

1. Becoming Sal Khan
   I assigned a variation of a volume of revolution problem completed for an online homework to be recorded as if they were producing a product for Khan Academy.
   
2. Architectural Competition
   Seeking design submissions for an original grand fountain (think Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, Chicago). At least 15 feet high and 60 feet in diameter, they are to present cross-sectional views, renderings, material requirements, and weight computations.
   
3. A Growth Mindset
   I stole Christine von Renesse’s assignment. A structured reflection using videos and vignettes from Living Proof, hopefully normalizing the struggle of mathematics and the potential for growth.
   
4. The Four Is of Oppression.
   I again adapted an assignment from someone else, this time Sara Rezvi and Rosalie Bélanger-Rioux. Asking students to first define in their own words Interpersonal, Ideological, Institutional, & Internalized oppression. Then reading stories from Living Proof and identifying instances of each form of oppression.

There is a lot to chose from and I hope there is something that speaks to everyone.