Math Modeling Reality Check

The professional development workshop described in this lesson plan focuses on ways in which modeling in the real world differs from traditional textbook "word problems." It exposes teachers to the complexity of modeling as a mathematical, scientific, and engineering practice, and simultaneously offers them ways to simplify the process to make the teaching of modeling with functions practical in a general math classroom setting. Teacher participants will incorporate one or more components of modeling with functions into a lesson, teach the lesson, and reflect on the lesson.