GAIMME: Guidelines for Assessment & Instruction in Mathematical Modeling Education

This publication is far more interesting than implied by its plain cover and dry title, Guidelines for Assessment & Instruction in Mathematical Modeling Education, which applies to all levels from prekindergarten through college. The content not only helps teachers incorporate mathematical modeling problems into classes, but also makes the curious and diligent ones want to do so, or even to teach a whole course in modeling.

The book explains how to turn a typical word problem into a more enticing modeling problem, perhaps about holiday gifts or a drone surveillance mission. In a true modeling problem, students have a lot of freedom, must choose a method of approach instead of a single "correct" one, and may arrive at different answers that are equally valid. It's just like real life!

The questions become, What does the teacher do? How much and in what manner does the teacher guide students? How are the students' results evaluated? Fortunately, this book has not only explanations, but also numerous examples. In fact, about half of the volume consists of appendices of examples that illustrate the teaching of modeling and its assessment, including detailed rubrics.

In summary, this volume contains everything that a teacher needs in order to jump into modeling.

Jan Holly is Professor of Mathematics at Colby College.