Analysis &Approaches (SL)
Using normal distribution models to represent reaction times of people
Thinker
I chose my IA as a piece of evidence since I strongly believe it was one of, if not the best task to represent what I learned during the course of maths class. I selected the learner profile of "Thinker" since it refers to a person with high intellectual powers, who thinks deeply and seriously and in this case, the rubric for this essay was strict, since it required the students to choose a mathematical topic of their interest in order for them to write about it while also, linking it to real-life situations. In regards to difficulties and challenges, I had some problems in the process of choosing a topic since I had several options yet I didn't fully understand how to link them to accurate real-life situations. Another challenge was the recompilation and analysis of data in Google Sheets, yet with the help of Emerson, I was able to succeed. Finally, I believe that this evidence in particular will strongly help me in my future university career (Global Business) since understanding math and being able to write about an specific topic is key.
Risk-taker
For the second piece of evidence, I chose one of the last online exams we had before the mocks started. The exam consisted of answering the highest amount of questions during the period of class yet we had to do the exam in groups of three. Mathematics has never been my strongest subject and therefore, this type of exam always made me nervous, that is why for this task, I chose the IB learner profile of "risk-taker" which refers to a person that is willing to take some risks to achieve a goal. In this case, I felt that I risked my team's and my grade by using some formulas that I wasn't sure were going to work out fine. Luckily enough, I did a good job and contributed to obtaining a good grade. During the exam, I learned that instead of leaving a blank space (which assures zero points) taking a risk and answering a question even though I'm not sure about the answer, will always leave me with higher chances of getting it right. Lastly, I remember feeling very nervous and anxious minutes before starting the exam yet once I was able to answer questions with my team's help, I realized I was capable of doing the work myself.
Inquirer
The assignment consisted of answering eight trig. identity questions using the double-identity to find the exact value of each expression. From a more general perspective, it represents how we learned a new topic and put it into practice. In this specific topic, we went through the introduction and some brief examples with the teacher, and this piece of evidence was then assigned for us to work out. Therefore, I chose the IB learner profile of "inquirer" since it represents my attitude in the process of understanding a new topic. For example, I remember I asked questions and paid attention to every explanation in order to expand my knowledge of the topic and later on, be able to do the work by myself. A memory that comes to mind from when I was finishing this task is a feeling of happiness, and satisfaction since I got an excellent grade thanks to my effort put into practice. Lastly, one thing that I learned about myself is that even though math may not be my strongest subject, with effort and perseverance, I could even become a mathematician myself!