Carnegie Learning
National Winners of Carnegie Learning's Software Challenge
2012-2013
2013-2014 |
During the upcoming year, students will utilize Carnegie Learning via the Internet to help meet their individual math needs and ensure learning. Carnegie Learning, Inc. is a leading publisher of research-based math curricula and was founded by Carnegie Mellon University in conjunction with math teachers. Numerous research studies have shown that Carnegie Learning helps students succeed in math and prepares them for the 21st Century. Across the nation, Carnegie Learning is helping to ensure that students achieve greater success. Locally, we are experiencing the same results, as our Algebra II students have been named the national winners of Carnegie Learning’s Software Challenge for the last two years from more than 1,000 schools.
For the sixth year, the high school math department is excited to utilize this curriculum to help ensure student learning and support in-class instruction. During each trimester, students are expected to complete math units utilizing Carnegie Learning software via the Internet. Within each unit, students are presented a lesson and complete higher-ordered questions that students solve analytically and graphically. Throughout the units, problem-solving skills are enhanced, as students are forced to identify the reasoning for each mathematical process prior to calculating a solution. Carnegie software is also differentiated for each student and provides immediate response to student entries. In-class opportunities to work on Carnegie will be provided on a regular-scheduled basis. However, students may need to work on Carnegie outside of class in order to complete the units. Each trimester, students will receive a calendar of unit due dates via Edmodo. Due dates will also be communicated to parents within PowerSchool. Students should strive to complete each unit by the due date since Carnegie quiz dates correspond to the unit deadlines. Therefore, it is to the student’s advantage to start and finish the unit by the completion date in order to demonstrate his or her understanding of the content on the Carnegie quiz. If a student is unable to complete a unit by the due date, they will have two additional weeks to complete the unit for any credit. Work completed more than two weeks after the due date will not be graded for points. Students will be graded on their skills mastery of each Carnegie unit. Skills mastery will account for 10% of a student’s OVERALL grade. Since each Carnegie unit includes a varying number of content skills, the score will be converted to a percentage and entered as a score out of 100 points. For example, Carnegie’s Linear Pattern a student who has completed unit covers 19 skills. Therefore, a student who masters 17 of the 19 skills will earn 89.5 points of 100 points for that unit. As a second example, a student who masters 13 of the 19 skills will earn 68.2 points. Students will be formally assessed on their understanding of the content skills by completing Carnegie quizzes in class. Each quiz will be graded out of ten points and will be part of the student’s academic grade, which is 80% of a student’s overall grade. Quiz questions are taken directly from Carnegie. A student wanting additional Carnegie help is welcome to meet with his or her teacher either before or after school or during S.M.A.R.T. Lunch. Arrangements for alternate times can also be made with individual teachers. |