Tuesday 14 December 2010

Plausible Estimation Quiz

One of my favourite end of term lessons is a Plausible Estimation Quiz. I've written about it on the NCETM website, and there is a spreadsheet there to download for scoring too.

In principle it is a quiz, where every answer is a number. Each round is 5 questions, with (ideally) all the answers in that round being the same order of magnitude. At the end of the round all 5 answers are added, and that number is the teams submitted score. The difference between the real answer, and the submitted answer is worked out, and then points awarded according to who is closest.

Usually I use Wolfram|Alpha to find answers, for random questions that pop into my head, either as I'm planning, or as I'm actually doing the quiz. Frustratingly I don't have a record of questions I've asked! I'd like to harness the power of twitter to get more questions.

1. Please suggest some questions! If you have the answers too, so much the better.
Click here to Launch the Form

2. Feel free to use it yourself. Click here to access the questions.

Friday 3 December 2010

QR Codes. Phase 2

I've started phase two of my attempt to get more teachers to know what QR codes are, and how they may be useful.

We have ID badges that we have to wear. Most schools do. All I've done is create a QR vCard, made it small, and stuck it to my badge. I've spoken to a few people about it (including around eSafety), and they like the idea. If parents ask for my contact details (at subject evening etc.), they can access them from the code.

If anyone would like to check that it works and email me!


Phase three also in the pipeline; using them in the community.