Motion and Graphing

Prof. Ashby uses a "ranking task" to determine student's prior knowledge of graphing data. She asks each participant to determine, "which graph(s) of distance vs. time depict an object moving at a constant rate..."

Prof. Dowdy discusses the ranking tasks that were used on the previous day's exam...
(Boo hiss)
The introductory challenge to the class groups was to generate a data set to measure speed using different methods of locomotion. Rita Martin demonstrates her "side shuffle" technique as Paul Ayers times her trial over a measured distance with a stopwatch.

Distance vs. time data is recorded to determine the speed of an individual...

The motion sensor is introduced to the group. 
Next the groups are asked to replicate a graph that is displayed on the calculator using the motion detector. The student graph is displayed in real time on the same screen with the "model" line of distance (y-axis) vs. time (x-axis)
Prof. Ashby assists individual groups as they are begin to work with the motion sensor to collect motion data... 

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