Re: Resources for math

Jon Greenberg (jgreenbe@ait.net)
Wed, 14 Aug 1996 13:36:09 EDT

Jim Foerch <alrai@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> For fun, excitement and real life applications,try this lesson
> plan based on the Crutchfield car/home audio catalog. Students learn a ton
> of acoustic and electrical theory while juggling numbers from Hertz to
> dollars.
>
> Auto Audio Lesson
> based on Crutchfield Catalog
>
> The real textbooks of your life are high tech catalogs. Real answer sheets
> of your life are mail order forms. This lesson is an opportunity to learn
> the theory of sound as applied in car/home stereo shopping in the
> Crutchfield catalog. Start by reading your text, Ch. 27. Here's the
> learning objective:
> TLW demonstrate an understanding of sound by defining and/or using the
> words frequency, Hertz (Hz), pitch, ultrasound, decibels and medium.
> You will use these technical terms to describe you choice of car audio
> components from the catalog. In addition you will define and learn to use
> the following technical terms from the catalog:
>
> stereo
> speaker
> presets
> FM mono sensitivity

< SNIP--long list of additional terms>

> Work in groups of 4. Each student is responsible for defining 5 of the
> terms and teaching the other team members about them. Then use your new,
> technical expertise to choose your personal, ultimate car or home stereo.
> Fill out an order form and append a note saying what sort of home
> electronics you think you'll have ten years from now.
> Best of fortune to you,

This is a very interesting approach, but I have not seen the Crutchfield
catalog. Will students (what age?) be able to figure this all out just
from the catalog? Or is it just meant to provoke them to seek out more
complete answers from other sources, such as physics books?

Jon Greenberg
Science Editor/Curriculum Developer
Agency For Instructional Technology
jgreenbe@ait.net