Building SPEED materials provide real-life examples that illustrate the same principles covered by textbooks and mandated by national, state, and local standards. The materials do not introduce additional content: They give students an opportunity to extend their understanding of basic concepts to actual situations while strengthening problem solving and critical thinking skills. Some materials are worksheets that ask the student the apply their understanding of concepts, while others include hands-on components that strengthen the intuitive understanding and emphasize the applicability of the concepts. Building SPEED materials can be used with any curriculum and the teacher can pick and choose which modules to use depending on the needs of their individual classes.
Every teacher hears this question. Students often don't see how what they are studying in math and science class relates to anything in the real world. Unless you're going to work in the factory that makes frictionless inclined planes, where does the physics you learn in class get used?
The answer is on the track, which is the same place you'll find algebra, graphing and even calculus invaluable. Building SPEED provides teachers with the answer to this question by using motorsports to engage high-school math and physics/physical science students and show them that what they're learning is the same knowledge top drivers and crew chiefs use to win races.
Building SPEED content reinforcement materials are indexed to the National Science and Math Education Standards. Each includes a Teacher's Guide. Initial materials focus on high-school math and physics/physical science; however, many of the materials will be useful for introductory college courses or advanced middle school courses.
In addition to content materials, Building SPEED is developing mini-biographies of people working in motorsports-related industries that emphasize the range of jobs for which math and science are required skills.