After reviewing your classmate’s post, would you alter your definition? Why or why not? Would you provide different examples?
I wouldn’t alter my definition of an equation, but I would change the definition for a function. I would add the idea that functions generally have two variables (an input and an output). I think this addition would help students separate the two concepts. In seventh grade, we don’t solve many equations with two variables, so it would make a clear distinction between a function and an equation. In future classes, there would be equations with two variables, but I could tell my students they will see that in the future.
How can you evaluate whether or not your students grasped the difference between the two?
I would have students complete two activities in order to differentiate between the two terms. First, I would give them examples and ask them to identify each example as an equation or a function. Second, I would ask them to write an explanation or complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting equations and functions. I believe this approach would show me which students can simply identify the two and which students can differentiate the subtle differences between an equation and a function.
