When Oxford High School teacher Paul McDevitt gives his geometry students a test, they putt a par-four on a twelve-hole course.
Instead of a written exam at the end of the semester, McDevitt challenges his students to build a putt-putt golf course.
‘It’s more about being able to apply the geometry rather than using it on paper,? McDevitt said. ‘This is the kind of thing kids remember.?
While learning the basics of geometry begins in the classroom, applying it begins with the creativity of each team.
Each putt-putt unit is created, designed, assembled and tested in groups of five or six students.
The students use their geometry skills, along with a compass, protractor and angles to draw a blueprint and ultimately assemble a full-scale, working model of their putt-putt vision.
The only crucial requirement, according to McDevitt, is that the unit has two banks with two angled shot opportunities on the surface of the hole.
The rest is up to the imagination of the team.
‘There are a lot of geometry transformations, reflections and scale factors used (while creating the course),? McDevitt said. ‘This is a good way to test the students on what they’ve learned.?
As a rule McDevitt’s students have two weeks from start to finish to complete the project, however, this year the students were challenged to complete the job in one week.
Within that week, McDevitt’s students stepped up to the plate and made the 12- hole course, complete with dinosaurs, ice skating rinks, palm trees, moving windmills and Christmas lights.
‘They did such a nice job,? McDevitt said. ‘Every year I’m surprised at the effort the students put into this,? he said.
‘These are really good,? said McDevitt as he admires the new tropical look of his OHS classroom/golf course.