Reflections on Group Micro Teaching

The objective of the lesson was to graph the original function and then to analyze/visualize what happens to the original function when absolute values are involved. Visualizing absolute value functions are complicated with or without the use of technology. What was even more confusing was that we did not initially mention to our students that this lesson is a follow up of previous lessons on absolute value functions. 

We requested our students to make the graphs on a paper. Instead of this, I think that we could have had the students to graph multiple functions (functions of their choice) using GeoGebra. Then they could have engaged with the other groups to deepen their own understanding of the concept of absolute value functions. 

We had three groups of students. Our intention was that each group would produce one graph of their assigned function and then discuss about their graph with respect to the graph produced by GeoGebra. Instead, what happened was that each group member focussed on graphing their own graph, and then we ran out of time to discuss about the graph produced by GeoGebra. I don't think that our instructions for the group work was clear. 

Next time around, I think that clear instructions on the outcome of group work would be emphasized. Also, for mini lessons like this one, engaging and interacting with GeoGebra may generate better discussions than trying to sketch the graphs by hand and then expecting to have a conversation.