TVHS students make Algebra interesting for Cohoes counterparts
03.03.10
Using a whip, guitars, and a slinky, a group of Tech Valley High School juniors brought Algebra to life for a Cohoes High School class on Tuesday.
The juniors in Tech Valley's PhAT (Physics-Algebra-Trigonometry) class presented lessons to an integrated algebra class of Cohoes freshman, sophomores and juniors. Also in attendance were several Cohoes teachers and Cohoes School Superintendent Robert Libby.
The class was designed to show that Algebra can not only be interesting, but relevant to the "real world."
"The students used algebra 2/trig and physics concepts to show integrated algebra students how studying math can be interesting and applies to the real world," said TVHS teacher Michelle Sweeny.
In one demonstration, TVHS' Lisabeth Kelly, from Ichabod Crane, cracked a whip several times to demonstrate how the waves and sound waves moved. She also spoke about how the cracking sound of the whip moves at the speed of sound - the same sound as if a jet broke the sound barrier. In another demonstration, TVHS' Jesse Feinman, from Guilderland, used a slinky to demonstrate how waves can move quicker or slower and what happens when waves hit one-another.
In other demonstrations, students built a wood, string and marker contraptions that shows the movement of the Earth, and others showed how guitars and bass guitars rely on waves to create sound.
Throughout the half-our presentation, the Cohoes students asked questions and took part.
"All of the demonstrations were developed by the students themselves," said teacher Jesse Irwin, "and as a result reached the students on their level and at their interest levels."
TVHS is a two-year-old state-of-the-art public school in East Greenbush that serves students from 39 public schools in seven Capital Region counties – Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Columbia, Greene, Schoharie and Saratoga counties. The school combines the latest technology with project-based learning – a partnership that is designed to develop students with the skills employers are requiring in today's ever-changing workforce. It is funded through a partnership between Capital Region BOCES and Questar III.
