Problem solving

When I first saw the movie Hidden Figures  I know that the whole school have to see this . From a motivational perspective, it is one of the best best movies of the year and deserved every Oscar it got.WE did second best--show it during Maths in the class.

Lessons learned from the movie is numerous and there are many levels and layers in the movie. There are main four themes, Cold War. ,Space race, racism and Mathematics are woven together to form a spell binding journey in telling the story of three ladies role in helping humankind achieve their biggest achievement yet----land a man on the moon

This was not without any problems. Actually,t he whole movie was about real life problems and solutions. I use this as a learning tool to teach problem solving strategies by analysing some scenes in the movie

     Problem-Car broke down

      Solution -Get under the car and fix it

    Strategy-Fault finding

     Problem-Policeman

     Solution Be humble and nice-made friends with him

    Strategy-Change direction

Problem-Shoe got stuck 10 second before the spacecraft undergo testing--

Solution -Try to winch it out, then leave it. Your life is more valuable than a shoe

Strategy-Prioritize

Problem.They need to do calculations faster--

Solution-Get an IBM mainframe computer.

Strategy-Look at options and choose the best one.

Problem -The computer is too big for the door

Solution Break down the door with a hammer

Strategy-Eliminate

Problem-Computers are doing the calculating,the calculators will we jobless

Solution-Learn coding to become a computer programmer

Strategy-change direction

Problem-Catherine spend too much time away from her desk. No black lady toilets close by

Solution-Hammer again-Smash down the colours sign and declare everybody at NASA the same colour

Strategy-Eliminate

Problem-Can’t read the blackout figures.

Solution-Hold it up against the light.

Strategy-Logic

Problem-Can‘t be an engineer-need more qualifications

Solution-Study further

Strategy-Logic

Problem-Can’t attend a white school.

Solution-Take them to court- study night classes

Strategy-nonviolence-follow channels

Problem-Can’t find the go/no go point

Solution--start at the back and work forwards

Strategy-Reverse engineering

Problem-No formula to work out the calculations

Solution-Study forgotten Mathematics

Strategy- Look for answers in the past

Quotes from the movie---

Numbers don't lie

Inaction and indecision are the two big enemies

How the earth did we came second in a two man race?

At  NASA we are all the same colour.

This is the Worksheet we have done