Teacher: Ivan Bartolec
Discipline/subject: Science subjects (Mathematics)
Age of students: 14-17
N. of students: 11

Experiential Learning

Eratosthenes experiment

Calculating the circumference of the Earth

stick, measurement tape, eLearning educational tools

Whole lesson plan which was used by teacher and partially by students was available on website of the project which gathers schools from all over the world for the purpose of the most accurate conduction of Eratostens experiment.

• Lesson plan: http://eratosthenes.ea.gr/sites/default/files/Eratosthenes_HighSchool.pdf
• Table which students filled while taking required measures:

1. First, students were introduced with Eratosten’s work and experiment which led to quite accurate measure of Earth’s radius and circumference.
2. Students were given instructions for the experiment and they prepared tools and sheets for conducting it.
3. Outside of school, students took required measures and took notes.
4. After going back to their classrooms, students did mathematical part of the experiment and got their results – approximate radius and circumference of Earth which was later compared to results which other schools included in this small project got and the school with the results closest to accurate was “the winner”.
5. After all of the students did their calculations, they filled the short assessment form which checked their knowledge.

Since this whole class was extracurricular, I didn’t use any form of formal evaluation (e.g. giving grades based on the results and/or test) but I gave some points to participating students since they volunteered. During part of the experiment where students took required measures, I took notes regarding their understanding of geometrics, proper use of measuring tools and correct reading of measures. Overall understanding of theoretical part of this experiential lesson, as well as correct usage of measures and required formulas, was assessed through mathematical results of the experiment, as well as through assessment form which most of the students filled successfully and correctly.

Mathematic lessons based on experiential learning should be implemented more because they give students opportunity to understand practical and useful side of otherwise abstract mathematical procedures.