[MATHEDCC] Algebra Questions

Michael Schachter (michaels@web-server.always-online.com)
Sat, 26 Sep 1998 17:10:27 -0400

Hi Annette and all:
I agree with most of what was written in Dusty's long response (I will =
not reprint it) except where the tone was a little harsh. I use many of =
the techniques mentioned, especially having the students write their =
questions on the board before I enter the room (to encourage this, they =
are asked to write the questions even after I enter the room if I see =
none on the board). Most of the time all the questions are answered =
because showing the steps for one almost always answers some of the =
other questions and if I see that they are similar then the students are =
asked to redo them. Personally, I believe that the First Year students =
need as many questions answered as possible and will gladly take up half =
of the class to do this. If there are no questions, well then I present =
some to the class (Pop quiz maybe?)!

In North Carolina (Annette is a NC colleague ), we have a Common Course =
Library for all the community colleges. The First Year Algebra course =
is five non-credit hours of which three are lecture and two are lab =
which can be set up in many ways. In the lab setting, my students work =
in groups often on problems presented on extra worksheets but sometimes =
on some text book (homework?) problems. Here I will not answer =
individuals questions but encourage them to use the resources in their =
group (the text, notes and other people). I try to act as that "Guide =
on the side" instead of the "Sage on the stage" in this context, but =
both are useful at different times. There are many other ways to =
organize the lecture, lab and questions in a way that the instructor is =
comfortable and the students learn. We, as instructors, can learn a lot =
from each other.

Mike

Michael Schachter Come and Exhibit at =
the=20
AMATYC Exhibits Chairperson 1998 AMATYC Conference
Coastal Carolina Community College November 5-8,=20
444 Western Blvd Portland, =
OR
Jacksonville, NC 28546-6899
Work: (910) 938-6168. Fax: (910) 455-7027
NEW email: Michaels@mail.always-online.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Annette Hawkins [SMTP:hawkins@SUN1.WAYNE.CC.NC.US]
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 1998 1:23 PM
To: Nancy Miller
Cc: BETH HENTGES; mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu
Subject: Re: [MATHEDCC] Combined Algebra

Sorry, I could not find the address for posting a message. My question: =
How=20
much time is allowed for homework questions, if at all, and what kind(s) =
of=20
questions do you allow? Problems in which they could not work at all,=20
problems in which they could start but not finish, or problems that they =

finished but their answers did not match the answers in the back of the=20
book? My first year students get a little upset because I give them 10=20
minutes to ask questions about homework. =20

Annette Hawkins=20
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