I wish I could say it was a "class of thousands." But, alas, it's a small
class. 16 students took the test. I think 10 got the problem correct.
>
>Martin Kalmar
>Frederick Community College
>Frederick, Md.
>Martin_kalmar@co.frederick.md.us
>
>
>
>Bret Taylor wrote:
>
>..and blame others (high schools, parents, society, Ken Starr, El Nino,
>etc.) for our students poor performance. Let me give you an anecdotal
>story. If you can figure out who I can "blame" other than me, let me
>know.
>
>Situation: Calc I exam. Simple, straightforward question. (At least, I
>thought so.) Using only e-mail capabilities, I'll try and give you the
>question here:
>
>Solve the following equation for A (exact value) and then draw a sketch
>depicting the problem.
>
>The integral from 1/A to A of 1/x dx = 4.
>
>I honestly thought the problem, especially the sketch, was a no-brainer.
>Just wanting to reinforce that the underlying principal that integrals
>are
>areas under curves. (We'd done some applications where it isn't obvious
>that this is the case.)
>
>Well, 4 of my students drew the curve y = lnx and shaded areas, rather
>than
>y = 1/x.
>
>And two of my students worked the problem and put the following answer in
>the answer blank
> sqrt(e^4)
>
>They did not understand that this would actually simplify to e^2.
>
>All of these students have had at least one pre-calc course taught on our
>campus by full-time (and excellent - I know them all and know they are
>good
>) instructors.
>
>So, who do I blame? :-)
>
>
>
>
>Bret Taylor Lake-Sumter Community College Leesburg
>FL
>
>"It matters not the subject taught, nor all the books on all the shelves.
>What matters more, yes most of all, is what the teachers are themselves."
> John Wooden
>
>John 3: 3^3 + 3
>
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Bret Taylor Lake-Sumter Community College Leesburg FL
"It matters not the subject taught, nor all the books on all the shelves.
What matters more, yes most of all, is what the teachers are themselves."
John Wooden
John 3: 3^3 + 3
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