RESEARCH PROJECT - POSSIBLE TOPICS Students should be encouraged to select a research topic that is of interest to them. However, if they are having trouble getting started, some possible broad topics are listed below. * Write a position paper arguing for or against mathematics education in schools. * Relate mathematics to a construction or design project. = Apply mathematics to personal finance. * Create a strategy game using mathematics. + Explore the Golden rectangle. + Explore the Fibonacci sequence. + Explore a connection between mathematics and art, music, or architecture. * Conduct a study of bacterial growth, population growth, or the spread of a disease. Explore a connection between mathematics and the environment. + Explore a connection between mathematics and personal health or fitness. Investigate the connection between mathematics and medications in the body. Investigate the connection between video games and mathematics. * Research and report on a famous mathematician. * Develop a study guide for Mathematics 30-2. * Describe strategies for winning a game of choice. * Create a poster of mathematical irregularities (e.g., 0! = 1) * Analyze cases of mathematical illiteracy in the media. Mathematics 30-2 Mathematics Research Project Student Planning Guide Basic Expectations of a Research Project The topic is appropriate + The sources are identified and evaluated The data is analyzed and interpreted Planning Guide This planning guide will help you organize and prepare your mathematics research project. It will help you meet all of the criteria required of this project. Choose a topic that involves mathematics and that is of interest to you. In the space below, briefly describe your topic and the mathematics involved. Share your topic with your teacher before beginning your research, Your teacher and/or your classmates can help you come up with an appropriate topic if you can't think of anything. My Topic: You will need to find data related to your topic to analyze and interpret. This data may be informational or statistical in nature. You need to access your data from more than one source so that you can compare and evaluate the validity of the sources. Where will you go to find the information/data you need? Is it readily available? Explain. Interpret your data. It is possible that a mathematical interpretation of your data will require 'mathematics you haven't studied yet. If that is the case, please see your teacher for help. Mathematical calculations are not the focus of this research project. Your interpretation is what will be assessed. Once you have found the information/data, explain how you know the data is valid. How will you present your interpretation of this data? Some data might be displayed in a graph. Other data might be presented in a chart or by showing your calculations. Provide a brief description of your interpretation of the data below. Did you encounter any controversies or multiple points of view in your research? If so, explain below what those are. 'You now have your topic, data, and an idea about how to interpret that data. Your next step is to prepare your presentation. You may wish to use: * Prezi PowerPoint = Poster = Written Summary Please check with your teacher as to what types of presentation will be acceptable in your class. Describe below how you will present your findings. Then get to work building your presentation. Your presentation must include: Your topic * Your data An analysis of the validity of your data sources + A description of the multiple points of view and controversies, if * An interpretation of your data including any predictions and conclusions you can reach