Subject: Re: Electronic discussion in math classes
From: JoniBook@aol.com
Date: Sat Mar 18 2000 - 20:19:46 EST
Jeff,
I have taught online with discussion groups, and also had them for my
traditional classes. Sometimes I would post a graph , something off the
beaten track, and have then discuss asymptotes, derivatives, wha happens when
you zoom, etc..... I have also been able to post LiveMath notebooks on
O'Reilly Webboard and also through BlackBoard and had the students explore a
concept and write about it. Check out the prototype Math Board at
http://www.livemath.com/lmboard/. This will be the future of math discussion
on the web.
It is important the the student does not feel isolated in the class. Some
write lengthly posts and others two word answers, no diffferent that F-2-F,
but the fact that they are discussing anything is most important.
In the graduate course I am teaching, we plan to discuss the TIMMS study
among other things, and using the LiveMath notebooks, methods of teaching
math.... which approaches work better than others... .how seeing a live
demonstration and exploration can enable a student with better cognitive
skills.
I'd like to hear what others do also.
Joni Bookbinder
Joan@distancmath.com
<<<<<<Some of my colleagues in other disciplines are using threaded
discussion
groups to encourage student/student or student/faculty interaction --
generally within the classroom but sometimes from home. Of what value is
such discussion in a college math class? I think the key to its value is
the kind of question with which the instructor starts a
discussion. Perhaps such an arrangement can foster student interaction in
attacking problems. I'd be grateful to learn of any experience which
you've had with this teaching strategy, and in particular, what topics you
set for the discussion.
Cordially,
Geoff Akst
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