For Kim Woods

Module 5 LASA Assignment HELP and EXAMPLES

Dear Class,

What is LASA? LASA stands for Learning Assessment Systems Assignment.

In all AUO courses in the 5 week model, there are two high-stakes assignments called Learning Assessment Systems Assignments, or LASAs. Each of these LASA assignments will assess the course objectives, and provide a measure of your learning throughout the course. These LASA assignments ensure that you are meeting course objectives and program outcomes, and obtaining the required knowledge and skills for the discipline.

Each course will have 2 LASA assignments: LASA 1 during Week 3 and LASA 2 during Week 5. Together these LASA assignments make up 50% of your total score in the course. Therefore it is imperative that your work on the LASA assignments be the best that you can produce. To this end, you are encouraged to look over the LASA assignment prior to the assignment week, so that you can plan ahead and prepare to complete the assignment.

Additionally, each LASA assignment contains a rubric, which gives you specifically what instructors are looking for in each given grading criterion.

To summarize:

· 2 LASA assignments in each course – Week 3 and Week 5

· Combined, the LASA assignments will assess all of the course objectives

· Combined, the LASA assignments make up 50% of your total points for the course. These are important high-stakes assignments.

· PLAN AHEAD! Do not leave LASA assignments to the last minute, read them over before the assigned week, plan and prepare so you can complete the LASA assignments fully

Below you will find a VERY HELPFUL EXAMPLE of how to complete the LASA. Please carefully go over this example at least 3 or 4 times. Then, open the required template that has been emailed and posted in class, and complete your work. Be sure that you review the grading rubric for how your work will be scored. Please provide thorough and complete answers to all portions.

Creating the Graph:

Click on the M5A1 tab in class and then click on the link called here that will download the Excel worksheet for you. Perform the steps noted below and attached your Excel spreadsheet containing your graph and all of your numbers inputted.

In the spreadsheet, perform the following operations:

1. Input a population value into the box next to Initial Population on the spreadsheet. This population should be anything such as the people, animals, microorganisms, or plants.

2. Input a rate of growth for your population into the box next to Rate 1. Since we are interested in a positive annual percent growth rate per year, this number should be greater than zero percent. Be sure to input this number in the form of a decimal.

3. Repeat the above procedure for Rate 2 and Rate 3. Make sure that the values you select differ by two percent. For example, the values 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 would be good choices.

4. Under the Time (years) column, input three different year values. Make sure that your values increase by a minimum of ten years. For example, 10, 20, 30 years would be good choices. If you want to see a more dramatic change, select a longer time frame such as 10, 50, and 100 years.

5. When you input all of your data, you’ll see that the spreadsheet has performed the calculations for the future size of each population, rate of growth, and time interval. Additionally, this information will be presented graphically in the chart. To draw an exponential curve for each series, do the following:

a. Right click on the middle point for one of the series.

b. Click on add trendline.

c. Under Trendline Options, select Exponential.

d. Click Close

e. Repeat these steps for the other series.

Here is what my table and my graph look like after I performed the above steps (you can also see this graph in my attached Excel sheet).

Initial Popluation	50000	Rate 1	0.05
		Rate 2	0.07
		Rate 3	0.09
Time (years)	Future Population for Rate 1	Future Population for Rate 2	Future Population for Rate 3
5	64201	70953	78415
15	105850	142882	192871
30	224084	408308	743986

Parts 1 - 3. Calculate what the future size of the population will be, given a specific initial population, rate of growth, and time interval.

Use the exponential equation: Future value = Present value * exp(rt)

exp is the base "e"

r = annual rate of growth expressed as a percent

t = years

In essence, you are REPEATING the calculations that Excel created for you, by manually calculating them using a scientific calculator. You can use google as a scientific calculator. Just input your formula and hit enter. The goal here is to show your set up of the equation and all of your Future Populations Values. Please fill out the below table. Use the Excel spreadsheet to double check your work (your final answers will be the same).

Here is my example:

t value	r value (remember this is a decimal)	Formula set up	Final Answer Future Value
5	.05	FV = 50000 * e(.05*5)	64201
15	.05	FV = 50000 * e(.05*15)	105850
30	.05	FV = 50000 * e(.05*30)	224084
5	.07	FV = 50000 * e(.07*5)	70953
15	.07	FV = 50000 * e(.07*15)	142882
30	.07	FV = 50000 * e(.07*30)	408308
5	.09	FV = 50000 * e(.09*5)	78415
15	.09	FV = 50000 * e(.09*15)	192871
30	.09	FV = 50000 * e(.09*30)	743986

What is the difference here??

Notice, when you are using the formula in Excel, the set up is: Future Value = Present value * EXP (rt)

What is this “EXP” in Excel? EXP is a function in Excel that returns the value of e raised to a given power, in this case, e raised to the power of rt or e^(rt)

But when you are using a scientific calculator, the set up is:

Future Value = Present value * e^(rt)

These BOTH will give you the same result! The difference is how Excel wants the formula entered.

REMEMBER! You can use google as a scientific calculator. For instance, if I type:

50000 * e^(.05*5) into google search and hit enter, the answer will come up 64201. Google automatically functions as a calculator if you enter math work into it.

Part 4. Examine the graph that your spreadsheet produced based upon the calculations. Did this graph consist of straight lines or curved lines? Describe the shape of these lines for each growth rate. How did they differ? Why?

Here I cannot provide an example as this would be giving the answer

Part 5. Explain the implications of growth rate for your population. What do you think will happen over a long period of time if a given population of organisms is allowed to increase without limits? Are there environmental factors that keep populations from growing exponentially unchecked? What would be the impact on environmental resources?

Here I cannot provide an example as this would be giving the answer

Part 6. Explain the likelihood of your results. Would it be expected that the percent growth rate would stay constant over long periods? Is exponential growth an appropriate assumption for long periods? If not, what other changes in population size might be expected?

Here I cannot provide an example as this would be giving the answer

However: Here is a great resource to get you started:

http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/population-limiting-factors-17059572

GRADING RUBRIC:

Assignment 1 Grading Criteria	Maximum Points
Select a population size (population could consist of people, animals, microorganisms, or plants).	20
Select a positive annual percent growth rate per year, which should be greater than 0%.	20
Calculate what the future size of the population will be, given the below assumptions. Use the exponential equation: · Future value = Present value *exp(rt) · Where exp is the base “e” of exponential, · r = annual rate of growth, expressed as a percent · t = years	20
Repeat the calculation for SECOND value of t (make sure they are at least two years apart from one another).	20
Repeat the calculation for THIRD value of t (make sure they are at least two years apart from one another).	20
Graph the results for population growth by % growth rate, vs. time in years for all FIRST calculations of t.	40
Graph the results for population growth by % growth rate, vs. time in years for all SECOND calculations of t.	40
Graph the results for population growth by % growth rate, vs. time in years for all THIRD calculations of t.	40
Explain the implications of this growth rate for the population’s resource use and the environment.	40
Explain the likelihood of your above results. Would it be expected that the % growth rate would stay constant over long periods?	40
Total:	300

Future Population for Rate 1 5 15 30 64201 105850 224084 Future Population for Rate 2 5 15 30 70953 142882 408308 Future Population for Rate 3 5 15 30 78415 192871 743986