Teaching Materials
Presented here are the directions given to the students for the different stages of the research project I personally designed for Pokémath. The project was created to be a hands-on, Pokémon-themed exploration of conditional probability. Students were graded on their research proposals, organization of data, and interpretation of results, with a focus on investigating possible correlated relationships in the data. I hope the documents demonstrate the practical, pedagogical experience I had as the primary instructor for this class.​
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All of the materials necessary for teaching Pokémath: the Mathematics of Pokémon GO are public. Click below to download them.
Student Responses
Below is a summary of Student Responses to my teaching as recorded on course evaluations at the end of each semester. This list was compiled by Dr. Cindy Farthing.
Pokémath Project 2: Spawn Rate Estimation
Part 1: Proposal
Pokémath class has three research projects instead of exams. The second research project was designed and executed by me during the two semesters I was the primary instructor for the class. The goal of the project is to get students to estimate a probability by watching how often different types of Pokémon appear around them.
Pokémath Project 2: Spawn Rate Estimation
Part 2: Data
Data collection and interpretation was a key aspect of the project. I wanted students to be able to relate their own data collection experience to the data we see in the world all around us.
Pokémath Project 2: Spawn Rate Estimation
Part 3: Report
In their report, students create graphs and other figures to show their findings. We spend time in class discussing how graphs can be manipulated to make a point, and how important it is to be able to read and interpret a set of data for yourself.