#Made4Math Linear or NonLinear ... now a Desmos Card Sort

I've written about card sorts in the past, and specifically highlighted the sort on Linear or NonLinear Functions.  (Post 1, Post 2, Post 3)


Recently +Desmos asked if they could create a digital card sort using this set of functions.  It's done and available on Desmos Activity Builder.  Get the link HERE.  Thank you, +Desmos 

This card sort fits well in Grade 8, 9, and 10.  In grade 8, you can use it to establish the concept of constant rate of change.  In grade 9, the sort could be used as part of a study of the attributes of linear and quadratic functions.  Then in grade 10, it could be used as a review activity before introducing rational functions.  Here is the link to the paper sort.

Considerations as you plan to use this sort:

1)  Grouping: I've found that card sorts work best when students work as partners.  I love listening in on their conversations.  

2) Scaffolding vocabulary:  As students work, encourage them to use good math vocabulary.  Using a word wall or a word list to remind students about the expected terms will help students as they work through the sort.

3) Showing thinking:  Besides sorting the cards, how will students show their thinking?  Will you allow a graphing calculator?  Will students create tables for the equations, to show the rate of change?  How will students justify the placement of cards?

#MTBoSBlaugust Why use card sorts? Two sorts included!

I originally wrote a post on card sorts in math class in July 2013.  It has had maybe the most hits of any of my posts!  I reposted that post in July 2014 ... and again, it had a lot of traffic.

This is not a repost!

There are many good reasons to use card sorts in class - especially with student partners.  Here are a few:

• Card sorts provide structure around which students can discuss math concepts meaningfully
• Card sorts require critical thinking; categorizing is a high yield strategy according to Marzano
• Card sorts address multiple learning preferences ... visual, auditory, and kinesthetic
• Card sorts help students identify patterns

In previous posts about card sorts, I included the link to this popular one comparing Linear vs NonLinear Functions.

In the last few week's Desmos has released it's addition to the Activity Builder.  It is easy now to create card sorts online.  I LOVE this feature!  Copying, cutting, losing cards are now a thing of the past!  It takes very little time to create the online card sort.

Tip:  Create your cards in PowerPoint so that you can add visual appeal using design and color.  Use the "Save as Pictures" feature which will automatically save each slide as a jpeg.  Then you can simply add images in the Desmos Activity Builder ... and your cards will look spectacular!  

I created a quick sample on true false statements about systems of equations.  You can find the simple activity here.  It would make a good pre-test to see what students already know or a quick formative assessment after an introductory lesson.  The actual pictures are at this link ... in case you want to create paper copies.

Card sorts are one of my favorite warm-up or opening activities because students can get started while I finish up those annoying administrative tasks, immediately talking math!

Padlet Card Sort

We began work on our quadratics unit. To see how much students remembered from previous instruction and to build the need to know more details, we started with a card sort ... on Padlet!

It works!

I clipped 8 graphs and 8 equations (in different forms).  I wanted to see if students could match the graphs and equations ... what attributes they remembered from their Algebra 1 course.

I pasted the 16 pictures in Padlet.

The author of a padlet is the only one who can move cards around. So I gave students editing rights: Setting (modify) >> Privacy >> Hidden Link >> Can Moderate >> Submit

Then I realized I had 8 groups of students - I needed 8 copies of the Padlet task.  Padlet has a copy feature which generated distinct URLs for the copies.  I posted the links on our class website so all students could access them easily.

When the first class began, I realized that as group members are sorting the cards, the movements don't show up real time on everyone's computer.  So we made suggestions.  Refresh often to see your teammate's work.  Or divide the task - each group member take 2 or three cards and make matches.  Or use one computer per group.

I heard great discussions around the room ... how to determine which equation went where.  I discovered which students remembered that "c" is the y-intercept; which students who knew that the factors represented x-intercepts; and so on.

The last thing I asked groups to do after we sorted and discussed was to scramble the page before they closed it.  I used the Padlets with 6 classes.  We only had a minor glitch in one group - someone accidentally deleted a card or two.  In giving students editing rights to be able to move the cards around they can also accidentally delete the cards.

The activity went well - and I will definitely use it again.  I liked this method better than cutting up dozens of cards for sure!