Imsa on March 10th and 17th

On March 10th IMSA was learning to read a code based on a base-2 system, binary system.  First we worked with magnets to show the students that they are polarized on one side and not on the other.  This set up the "on" or "off" situation.  We then incorporated that on/off system into a binary system in order to code numbers.  We then developed our own coded numbers and had the other groups try to decode them using what was taught during the lesson.

This unit is a little paper driven since it deals with codes.  Due to this we chose to do the "Locking onto an Idea Considering the Possibilities" lesson.  We first had them do an activity where they worked with probability and dice.  In this activity order mattered when considering the possibilities.  Activity 2 involved them all following the same set of walking directions in different orders and how that produced very different outcomes for each group.  On March 24th we will wrap up this activity.

 

*****We have noticed a large increase in the use of cell phones during IMSA.  Due to this growing distraction we are going to ask the IMSA students to leave them in their lockers or turn them off during IMSA.  If they continue use of the cellphones we will ask them to leave.  We hope everyone understands and supports our enforcement of this rule*****

Finding the Right Route 3-3-14

This week we worked on Route Transposition Template Ciphers to both encrypt and decode messages.  Although it was difficult at first we think the majority of the students really caught on as they continued to work on them and develop their own message.

We started with a message similar to this.

 

The students then used all of their previous knowledge of ciphers to try and solve it.  When that did not work we helped out with a hint.  We talked about arrays and used an example.  This really got them headed in the right direction.  However, there was still a lot of trial and error that occurred before they were able to figure it out.  Some of that trial and error is shown in the pictures below.

  The students slowly but surely caught on and developed their own messages for each other to decipher.  We encourage conversations at home about each type of ciphers we work on during IMSA.  It may even turn out to help you at the end of the year parent night!!!  See you all next week!

2-24-14 Meeting

Caesar's Cipher

The previous meeting allowed the students to understand how an alpha-numeric cipher works and how to use the wheel to help them figure out the ciphers.  We continued working with the alpha-numeric ciphers but this time we played an online game with it.  We used a website where the students were given several ciphers.  These ciphers were their clues to the next cipher.  Eventually they freed the djinni. 

 Here are a couple of pictures of the website and examples of the ciphers the students were solving.  As you can see below the students were very engaged with this activity!  It was great to see and experience the competiveness within them to be the first group to rescue the djinni.