Building Algorithms: Teacher Resources

Welcome to the teacher resources page for the Building Algorithms challenge! Here you will find links for a variety of resources: the student-facing challenge materials, a teacher guide for the challenge, a slide deck for the challenge, and some tips on implementation models and recruiting judges.

Mathematical Standards

Algebra

• Representing and Manipulating Algebraic Expressions
  • Translate an algorithm into an algebraic expression. 6.EE.A.2.A
  • Simplify algebraic expressions. 6.EE.A.2.B
• Create and solve equations and inequalities. 7.EE.B.4

Number Sense and Computation

• Understand and use percentages to apply weight to responses. 6.RP.A.3.C, 7.RP.A.3

Student Challenge Materials

In today’s internet world, data on people’s opinions are highly prized. One way to figure out those opinions is to ask people to complete surveys where they rate or rank their favorites. Researchers create formulas that analyze those answers in an automated process. That process is called an algorithm. Algorithms are everywhere.

Teacher Guide

As you prepare to implement the Building Algorithms challenge, explore our teacher guide to learn about the design of the challenge, teacher moves that we utilize when implementing the challenge, and where the math is built into the challenge.

Slide Decks

After you have read through the teacher guide and the student materials, you are ready to start prepping for launching the challenge with your students! We have prepared this set of slide decks from our experiences implementing the challenges. Please use it as you desire! We have written teacher notes in the speaker notes for you to have insight into how we have used them and what we were thinking when we designed them, but more importantly, you need to feel comfortable with what you decide to put in front of your students.

Math Throughout a Challenge

Check out this resource to learn about how the challenges were designed to support different stages of mathematical learning through the different phases of a challenge.

Implementation Options

This resource provides options for different timelines that we have seen teachers use for implementing our challenges.

The D&P Student Process

The experience begins with understanding the challenge. Then students brainstorm, research, design, and test their solutions through feedback cycles with external experts. Finally, they pitch their solutions to a panel of judges.

Pitch Preparation Resources

The following resources are here to support you as you plan to recruit people outside of the classroom to serve as experts and pitch judges.

Tips for Recruiting Judges

There are three times during a Design & Pitch Challenge in which we recommend inviting outside guests: Expert Check-In, Practice Pitch Judging, and the final Pitch Day judges and tech brief interviewers. This document provides tips for who to reach out to and how to do so.

Handout for Judges

Once you invite people in for judging, it is helpful to send them some support to prepare. We recommend sending the challenge statement video and this question document for them to peruse ahead of time. Then, when they arrive, we usually show the challenge statement video to have it on the mind and have printed copies of this document and the pitch judging rubric.

Pitch Judging Rubric

This is the rubric that the judges use while they are listening to the student pitches. You can either provide a printout of this rubric and then add up the scores right then, or create a Google Form and have a spreadsheet add them up. Judges tend to have an easier time with paper versions.

Pitch Superlatives Certificates

In addition to pitch winners, we like to provide superlatives (check out our list of ideas!) on certificates to each group. We recommend printing out this certificate on slightly thicker paper to make it special for them.

List of Superlatives

Here are some ideas for superlatives that we have used for celebrating awesome things that students do well in their pitches and prototypes. Of course, encourage the judge to come up with their own ideas as well!

Design & Pitch Overview

This slide deck was created to send to judges ahead of time to give them a brief overview of what Design & Pitch is all about.