☣️ Operation: Containment - Day 3: The Certification Protocol

You have the skills. Now you have to prove it. Welcome to Certification Day.

Change of Base Logarithms Comic Book Style

"We've intercepted the antidote formula... but it's locked behind a 4-level security protocol. To get clearance for the final mission, your team must conquer 3 of the 4 stations. Earn your stickers. Get certified." - Director Stone

📜 Mission Briefing

• 🎯 Mission Objective: Prove mastery of log skills (converting, graphing, translating) by conquering 3 of 4 "Certification Protocol" stations.
• ⏳ Class Time: 1 Class Period (80 mins)
• 📚 Subject & Level: Secondary Math 3 / Algebra 2
• 👻 The Adventure: A 4-station "Escape Room" challenge. Teams work together to earn stickers by "conquering" each protocol. Get 3 stickers to win.

🎒 The Armory

🔧 Day 3 Gear (The Stations)

• 🖥️ Main Slideshow: Get the QERC Briefing Slides
• 🎯 Station 1 (Kahoot): Protocol: Conversion & Translation
• 📝 Station 2 (Worksheet): Protocol: Spiral Review
• 🧩 Station 3 (Card Sort): Protocol: Scaffolding
• 📈 Station 4 (IDO): Protocol: Identification

🧑‍🏫 Analyst Support (Video)

• 🆘Pre-load / Post-Help: Watch the Support Briefing

👕 Costume & Prop Ideas:

• QERC Director: Same as Day 1 & 2. Your QERC ID badge is key.
• Stickers: Get some simple, "dragon worthy" stickers. Biohazard symbols, checkmarks, or even simple gold stars. Hand them out with ceremony as teams "conquer" a station.
• Mission File: Give each team a manila folder labeled "QERC MISSION FILE: [TEAM NAME]". They will collect their stickers on this file.

🗺️ The Walkthrough

✨ Introduction: The Motivational Message (Approx. 10 mins)

The Script:

"Recruits. You have proven you can identify the signals. You have mastered the 'Decryption Phrase' to convert them. But today, we've intercepted the *actual* antidote formula, and it's locked behind a 4-level security protocol. Even worse, the data is encrypted in 'alien' bases... Base 7, Base 4, Base 12. Our calculators can't read them.

Your mission is to get certified for the final hack. You will work in teams to conquer **at least 3 of the 4 Certification Protocols** and earn your stickers. Each station tests a key skill. You'll need your Day 1 graphing, your Day 2 conversion, and the new 'Universal Translator'—the Change of Base formula. Get 3 stickers, and your team is cleared for the final mission. Good luck, analysts."

🔥 Main Activity: The "Certification Protocol" (Stations) (Approx. 50-60 mins)

The Story: Teams work in a "station" format to "conquer" 3 of 4 challenges. When they complete a station, they show you (Director Stone) their results. If they pass, they get a "Protocol Conquered" sticker for their team's Mission File.

The Stations (Student Choice, Cooperative Learning):

• 🎯 Station 1: Protocol: Conversion & Translation (Kahoot)

  Task: Teams play the Day 3 Kahoot. It mixes Day 2 conversion with Day 3 translation (CoB). (Approx. 20-25 mins)

  Sticker Goal: The team must get at least **10 out of 13** questions correct.

• 📝 Station 2: Protocol: Spiral Review (Worksheet)

  Task: The "Student Choice" option. Teams complete the Spiral Review Worksheet. (Approx. 15-20 mins)

  Sticker Goal: Complete the worksheet with 90% accuracy (checking the key).

• 🧩 Station 3: Protocol: Scaffolding (Card Sort)

  Task: The "boss" station. Teams get 4 jumbled "hack attempts" on cards (from the Card Sort Doc) and must sort them into the correct 4-step sequence. (Approx. 15-20 mins)

  Sticker Goal: Correctly sequence all 4 "hacks" and show the "Director."

• 📈 Station 4: Protocol: Identification (IDO)

  Task: The "fast feedback" review station. Teams complete the 8-question IDO quiz. (Approx. 10-15 mins)

  Sticker Goal: Get at least **7 out of 8** correct.

👾 The Final Boss

📝 The Final Field Certification (At Home Quiz)

The Story: Time to prove you're ready. Complete your certification exam. You must pass to be cleared for the final mission tomorrow.

The Activity: Students work individually on the Final Certification Exam (IDO). (Note for teachers: To get access to this amazing resource, please contact darcistone@alpinedistrict.org! Also, please hit "submit" to start the quiz fresh, as it generates a new version on each attempt.)

🎬 Epic Reward: Certification Granted!

The Story: "Congratulations, Analysts. I see teams with 3, and even 4, stickers. You've passed the certification. You are officially cleared to handle the antidote formula. Tomorrow, we save the city."

[YOUR EPIC REWARD VIDEO WILL GO HERE!]

🏆 The Level Clear Screen: Performance Review

The Story: File your End-of-Shift Report. Which protocols are clear? Which are still 'garbled'?

The Activity: Students use their Printable "End-of-Shift" Report to complete their Self-Reported Grade and Cognitive Task Analysis.

🔟 Master Analyst (A "10" Report)

I conquered at least 3 stations and I could teach the "Card Sort" (Station 3) to another team. I understand *why* Change of Base is the necessary 'partner' to converting.

My Reflection: (Explain *why* a calculator can't solve `log_7(50)` directly, and what the two-step 'hack' is to solve it.)

My Answer: _________________________

🎱 Skilled Analyst (An "8" Report)

I conquered at least 3 stations. I am solid on the Kahoot and IDO. The "Card Sort" (Station 3) was tricky, but I see how the steps fit together now. I'm ready for tomorrow.

My Reflection: (What is the *only* reason we need to use the Change of Base formula?)

My Answer: _________________________

⭐ Analyst-in-Training (A "6" Report)

I conquered 1 or 2 stations. I'm good at the *old* skills (Graphing, Converting) but the new Change of Base formula is confusing. I'm not sure when to use it.

My Reflection: (Fill in the blank: To solve `log_3(10)` in a calculator, I would type `log(__) / log(__)`.)

My Answer: _________________________

🌱 New Recruit (A "4" Report)

I was present, but the stations were confusing and I'm not sure how Day 2 and Day 3 are connected. I need to review the support video.

My Reflection: (What was the *one* station that was the most confusing and why?)

My Answer: _________________________

🗣️ De-Brief: Cognitive Task Analysis (Class Discussion)

After the Exit Tickets are in, lead a class discussion using these prompts:

• "Which station did your team find the *easiest*? Which was the *hardest*? Why?"
• "Let's talk about Station 3 (The Card Sort). What was the *first* step you always looked for? What was the *last*?"
• "In your own words, why can't we just skip Day 2 and jump right to the Change of Base formula? Why are they 'partners'?"

🧐 Hattie Expert Debrief (For Teachers)

This lesson is a high-efficacy "dragon worthy" design that builds on the previous days. It's a "gamified" station rotation that maximizes several Hattie strategies:

• Student Choice (d=0.57): The "Conquer 3 of 4" model is the core. It gives students agency and allows for natural differentiation. Teams can target their weaknesses or start with their strengths.
• Mastery Learning (d=0.65): Each station has a clear, high-bar "Sticker Goal" (e.g., 10/13, 90%). Teams must demonstrate proficiency, not just "completion."
• Spiral Review (d=0.60): Two of the four stations (Graphing IDO, Kahoot review) are *deliberately* pulling in skills from Day 1 and Day 2. This reinforces old learning, builds confidence, and connects it to the new skill.
• Scaffolding (d=0.53): The new "Card Sort" station is a *perfect* scaffolding activity. It lowers the cognitive load by having students "recognize" the full problem-solving sequence *before* they are asked to "reproduce" it from scratch on Day 4.
• Cooperative Learning (d=0.54): The "Sticker Challenge" for teams encourages positive interdependence. Students must "talk it out" to conquer the stations, especially the puzzle-like "Card Sort."
• High-Impact CTA: As always, the "Level Clear Screen" combines **Self-Reported Grade (d=1.33)** with a **Metacognitive (d=0.69)** prompt that links the "why" to the "how."             

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