Tag: #PersonalSocialCC

Pre-Calculus 11 Core Competency Self-Assessment

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Core Competency Reflection

Working collaboratively with others  

This semester, I enjoyed and greatly benefited from group work. After each lesson, our class would split into groups to do “group work” questions together. I found that this practice enhanced my understanding of the topics covered in the lesson, as I was able to fill in the gaps in my comprehension of the lesson by asking my classmates who understood the lesson quite well. My group members explained concepts that I didn’t understand in a way that was helpful, kind, and constructive. I also explained concepts that I had grasped to classmates that needed help. Overall, group work was helpful to myself and my group in improving our understanding of the topics covered in class. 

Strategically preparing for assessments

This semester, I used studying practices that helped me to successfully prepare for assessments that I completed in this class. These practices included reading over the lesson notes published on OneNote, completing all assigned workbook questions, going to Flex or CENT time when I required help with a concept, and highlighting any mathematical vocabulary that I might need to know for the test. I also created a study plan a few days before the assessment day so that I wouldn’t be left cramming the night before the test. These studying practices helped me to retain the information taught in the course so that I could perform to the best of my ability on the day of the assessment. 

Managing time effectively

This semester, I managed my time effectively both in class and outside of class. In class, I was attentive during the lessons and group work. My goal for each class was to complete all or most of my workbook questions in class so that I could fully understand the concept. Most days, I was able to meet this goal. Outside of class, I booked flex and Cent blocks in Pre-Calculus so that I could receive help with workbook questions that I was struggling with or have extra time to work on a unit that I was moving slower than normal through. After school, I set aside time for studying, and completing workbook questions. Overall, my time management this semester allowed me to complete all assigned work to the best of my ability while leaving time after school for additional study time or other homework. 

Advice for Future Students

I have two pieces of advice for future students taking this course. The first piece of advice is to do all assigned workbook questions! They are very good indicators of what might be on the test, and they allow you to practice the concept over and over again until you get it. Also, don’t skip questions. Every single question has a small chance of being on the test. 

My second piece of advice is to ask questions. If you don’t understand a concept or even just don’t know why you’re getting a question wrong, it never hurts to ask the teacher or another classmate. Getting help shows that you’re not afraid to advocate for yourself. 

Facing a Challenge

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A photo of the problem that was a challenge for me to solve. On the left side is the way that I solved the problem initially, and on the right is the correct way to solve the problem that I figured out.

The first time I tried this problem I found it challenging because I wasn’t sure how to factor the 9 out of the first square root. I was also intimidated by the combination of x with the negative sign and the two 9s in the problem, and I thought that factoring wouldn’t be simple in this case.  

Describe the mistake/problem that happened the first time you tried it. 

The mistake that I made was that I didn’t factor out the GCF properly and skipped a step. I ended up factoring the GCF out of both sides of the negative sign and transferring them out of the square root in one step, which led to an incorrect answer. 

What strategies did you use to figure it out?

When figuring this problem out, I initially tried the problem again, thinking I had made a small error. When I got the same answer, I asked Ms. Lam for help during my Flex block and she helped me to recognize my mistake. I took this new information and used it when I encountered similar problems in the workbook. 

Which concepts and/or skills did you need to be able to solve this problem?

The concepts and skills that I needed to solve this problem were factoring out a GCF, simplifying radicals, and adding and subtracting radical expressions. 

Next time I encounter a difficult problem, I might try watching a video on YouTube that goes over the concept so that I might identify the mistake I made by myself. I might also work backwards after looking at the answer key in the workbook.  

Core Competency Self-Assessment

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Social Awareness & Responsibility in CLE 10

Artifact: Screenshot of the “Class Party Plan” Assignment

The artifact that I chose for this assignment is the Class Party Planning Assignment. In this assignment, the task was to plan a year end party for the class using a pre-determined budget. A venue, an activity and refreshments had to be factored into the cost.  

This assignment had elements of Social Awareness and Responsibility because I was planning a party for my classmates, which meant that I had to know activities or foods that my classmates or people my age would like, as well as be sensitive to any restrictions my classmates may have. For example, when finding a food package for the party, I made sure to choose an option that included vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options so that everyone would be able to enjoy a nice lunch. 

A challenge that I encountered while completing this assignment was finding an activity that would be enjoyed by everyone in my class. It couldn’t be an activity that was better suited to one group of people over another, and it had to be fun for everyone! It also couldn’t have too high of a cost, to accommodate the budget. I eventually chose to host the party at an arcade, as there is always a game for everybody, and there are plenty of engaging activities to keep everyone’s interest. 

This skill is important for everyday life because it’s likely that everyone will have to plan some sort of event or get-together at some point in life. It’s also important to be able to think of the needs of others when planning any event with other people, because everyone wants all of their guests to enjoy themselves without feeling left out.