Geometry POL Prep - Semester 1 Reflection
Geometry Skills
1. I feel that I have mastered Pythagorean Theorem this semester. I learned this topic in middle school and this class has helped me review it. We did some POW's(problem of the week) in class and for homework including Pythagorean Theorem. I know that I have mastered this skill because I can get a problem with pythagorean theorem involved and figure out how to solve that problem correctly and I can remember the equation (a^2+b^2=c^2) and use it correctly.
2. The explorations we have done this year have helped me to review the work we had done in class and understand it better. Sometimes though there might be something we didn't completely go over to challenge us which made the explorations a bit harder. When this happened on the exploration or I just needed some extra help, the group discussions got me to understand and figure out what I needed help with, when multiple heads were put together to solve something.
3. There was a moment this semester when I was having trouble with the logic problems we were going over. I couldn't grasp the concept of figuring out how to decide when a statement was true or false. Then I re-looked over a chart my teacher had shown us that was on the white board. Once I looked over the chart again I understood how it worked and now I know how to decide whether a logic statement is true or false, and I was able to finish the assignment given to us correctly. I learned from this experience that sometimes when you don't understand something you may already have the answer and you just need to review what you know and all the information that was given to you.
Problem Solving skills
1. I feel I have mastered the skill of identifying and applying appropriate mathematical tools from the habits of mathematician. This skill is just finding the correct equations, formulas, diagrams, etc. to use for a problem and then using it, which ever tool you decide is correct, the right way in the problem to solve it. I have demonstrated this skill when I do explorations and POWs because I have to do exactly what it says, find which tool to use to solve the problems I have and then use that tool. I believe I have grown in using this skill because the tool used to be given to me for me to use and now I use the information I already have to find that tool.
2. I believe I need to improve on the skill of reflecting and synthesizing. I did not use this skill as much as I should have this semester. For example, on my POW write ups I could easily show that I understand the problem and that I could do the process to find the correct answer. I would also be able to explain exactly what I did for my process and give a reasonable solution. The part I would always have trouble with was justifying my answer. It was difficult for me to reflect on my answer because I would never know what to say. I also would have a hard time trying to explain how I knew I was correct and what I could take out of my answer.
2. I believe I need to improve on the skill of reflecting and synthesizing. I did not use this skill as much as I should have this semester. For example, on my POW write ups I could easily show that I understand the problem and that I could do the process to find the correct answer. I would also be able to explain exactly what I did for my process and give a reasonable solution. The part I would always have trouble with was justifying my answer. It was difficult for me to reflect on my answer because I would never know what to say. I also would have a hard time trying to explain how I knew I was correct and what I could take out of my answer.
