WebQuest Template
Forecasting the Future
A Web Quest for Mathematics Students
Designed by
Eddelyn D. Gupeteo
eddelyn_gupeteo71@yahoo.com
Introduction
Are you not wondering on how population grow? What is the rate of increase? Will mathematics help you to better understand such phenomenon? Does population increases exponentially as time passes? Exponential function in math will somehow give you an idea on this particular issue.
The Task
In this web quest you will investigate population growth on a particular area. Working in groups you will study the population growth of the different barangays in Davao City. Identify the trend in the population increase every year until 2013. Relate the population growth data with the data on different diseases encountered by barangay every year from 2003 to 2013.
Students will come up with a projective profile of the population of the different barangays by 2013. Come up with hypothetical statement relative to population growth and the health problems encountered by barangay assigned to each group. Each group will come up with a tabular presentation of data, computation of the increase of population integrating the concept of exponential function, formulate hypotheses based on the information gathered and design a power point presentation to show the result of the investigation. The whole class will then process the outputs of the different groups by comparing and contrasting the result of each group.
The Process
You will be assigned to a team of five students. Decide on what role you are going to take.
ROLES/WORK
Data/Research Analyst
Gather data about the population of a specified barangay assigned to your group. You will have to contact the local government unit which is the barangay and find out where you can get pertinent data regarding the population for five years. The data should be from 2003 – 2008. Make a tabular representation of the data gathered. In your presentation see to it that you will have a data showing the age bracket such as children, adolescence, adult. Prepare population forecast. Works closely with mathematician.
Demographer
(two students)
Responsible for gathering data in relation to size, movement of people in an area that relates to human population such as health. Record the health problems encountered by the people in barangay assigned to your group following the age bracket such as children, adolescence and adult. Make a tabular presentation of the data gathered also from 2003 – 2008.
Statistician
Will do the basic statistical analysis of the data gathered. Make a graphical representation of the data and formulate hypotheses based on the information provided by the data.
Mathematician
Will Study the trend of the population and presents a mathematical computation that will relate exponential function to population growth. Show the solution of the computation. Work closely with research analyst and demographers.
Multimedia Designer
Prepares the actual multimedia presentation integrating all the data gathered by the other members of the team. Consolidate all the works of other members of the team.
There will be an orientation about the activity inside the classroom where you will be group as a team of five with each member has a specific role to play as outline above.
Gathering Information
( Data/Research Analyst)
1. Identify person in the local government unit who is responsible in keeping the population record of a particular barangay. Be sure to get data from 2003-2008 and record it properly. Come up with a matrix form so that you will have an organize data, where you will include the break down of the population from children, adolescence and adult bracket. ( 2 days)
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/staffdev/tpss99/processguides/interviewing.html
Please refer to this website to guide you on how to interview a person in-charge of the information you want to gather.
(Mathematician)
2. From the data gathered prepare a population forecast up to year 2013 applying your knowledge in exponential function. ( 2 days)
(Demographers)
3. Identify person in the Barangay health center responsible for keeping the record on health problems focusing only on five major diseases per year affecting the specified age group.
4. Prepare a matrix table to organize your data gathered capturing pertinent data for your final output. ( 2 days)
Analyzing the information gathered
(Statistician)
The gathered data will then be forwarded to the statistician for the analysis of it, make a graphical presentation, and formulate hypotheses regarding the data. Analysis will focus on the rate of increase or decrease of barangay population taking into account the age group, the different health problems encountered in relation to increase of population. ( 2 days)
Transforming Information into a product
(Mathematician)
Referring to the data gathered by research analyst and demographers, mathematicians will then compute and forecast the possible number of population in different age group, what part of the population will likely be affected by a particular health problem applying the knowledge on exponential function. ( 2 days)
(Multimedia Designer)
After the data/research analyst, demographers, statistician and mathematician have done their work its time for the multimedia designer to plan for a power point presentation. He will be responsible for capturing in the presentation the overall concept, design and layout give appropriate explanation on the result submitted by the other members through brainstorming. Tips and guide about the presentation is provided for you.
( 2 days)
Resources
For all the members of the group
Population Growth
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/dailymath/population.html
Getting the Picture: Communicating Data Visually
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/dailymath/getpicture.html
Exponential and Polynomial
http://archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/0/exp_log.3/index86.html
For Mathematician
Exponential Function
http://archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/0/exp_log.5/
Interesting Facts about Population Growth Mathematical Models
http://www.arcytech.org/java/population/facts_math.html
Exponential Function Graph Activity
http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspView&ResourceID=66
For Statistician
A Procedure for Analyzing Scientific Figures
http://web.visionlearning.com/custom/general/overheads/SCI2.1-oh-analyze_figures.shtml
The students’ final grade for this Webquest will be taken from the ratings using the rubric for assessing Webquest activity which is considered as 50%, 25% will be taken from the peer and self evaluation respectively.
Conclusion
Upon completion of Webquest activity students will have a realization on the importance of connecting the topic in the classroom to real life issue and how it could be of help in coming up with ways in preparing for whatever happens in the future. It will help them realize that we can make a difference if we do plan ahead of time and if we develop an ability to forecast. Forecasting as defined by Dunn (1994) is a procedure for producing factual information about future states of society on the basis of prior information about policy problems. The result of their project can be presented to barangay and can be very useful for planning alternative solutions to issues being covered in the project. Results should be given to the local government in order to address issues pertaining to growth rate of population and the possible problems or factors that may be affected because of the population growth.
