Lesson Plan: Polynomial and Logistic Differentiation using Global Wind Energy Production Data

Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.

Step 1: Topic introduction and discussion 

1. Use the teaching module, ‘Differentiation Rules’ by OpenStax, Rice University, to teach differentiating functions, differentiation rules, and polynomial or logistic differentiation.
2. Navigate to the sub-sections within the module to explain the types of differentiating functions and the application of the Quotient or Power Rule.
3. Use the in-built practice exercises and quizzes to evaluate your students’ understanding of the topics.

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Step2 : Extend understanding

1. Use the classroom activity, ‘Wind Energy by Selected Countries and World’ from Sustainability Math by Thomas J. Pfaff, Professor of Mathematics, Ithaca College, USA, to enable your students to apply their understanding of polynomial or logistic differentiation using datasets from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
2. This classroom activity includes datasets of several countries’ wind energy production (including the World’s cumulative data) from 1980 to 2016. This data is provided in an Excel spreadsheet.
3. The classroom activity also includes a Word document that contains directions on how to use different mathematical methods on the data provided.
4. It further includes questions that you may wish to use in your classroom to explain differentiating functions to initiate a discussion on the rate of increase in global wind energy production in several countries such as China, Spain, and USA in recent times.
5. Direct your students to download the Excel file (with datasets) and the Word document (with directions to use the datasets and a set of questions to analyze the datasets).
6. The documents also include datasets of several other countries that may be used for this activity.
7. Proceed with the classroom activity and encourage your students to answer the questions by applying their understanding of differentiating functions and the Quotient (or Power) Rule.
8. This activity also includes links to readings to help explain to your students the basics of wind energy production and its environmental impacts.

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Step 3: Discuss further

Use the visualizations, ‘Wind Power Plants by Capacity (MW)’ by World Resources Institute (WRI) and ‘Wind energy generation, 2018’ by Our World in Data to discuss about the current capacity and distribution, and increase in capacity of global wind energy production for the years 1965-2018. Finally, discuss how the increase in the World’s wind energy production could help reduce carbon emissions and mitigate global warming.

Visualization 1

Visualization 2

Suggested questions/assignments for learning evaluation :

1. What are differentiating functions?

2. Describe polynomial and logistic differentiation using examples.

3. How has the rate of global wind energy production changed since 1980?

4. How do the rates of wind energy production in select countries (from the given datasets) differ from that of the World?
5. Define a function for the rate of increase of the World’s wind energy production to meet its entire energy requirement.

The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:

1. learn about polynomial and logistic differentiation, and the use of the Quotient or Product Rule.
2. describe the rules for differentiating functions.
3. apply differentiating functions to compare the rates of increase of wind energy production by several countries (from given datasets).
4. discuss the importance of increase of renewable sources of energy such as wind power to reduce global warming.

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