[MATHEDCC] Homework

William Schooley (wschoole@HARPER.CC.IL.US)
Tue, 29 Sep 1998 08:28:11 -0500 (CDT)

My experience with students on the homework issue at the college level
parallels that of Bret Taylor. I also found years ago that most students
who asked questions may not have tried many of the assigned exercises. Now
when I ask if there are questions on the homework, I require those students
to produce their homework so I can see what they tried in their attempt to
answer their own questions. If they have not tried, I remind them that it
is difficult to help someone when I do not know what they need help with.
If I see their attempted work, I then have a basis on which to build. Quite
often I find that the student copied the exercise incorrectly from the book
or has a "minor" arithmetic error (although errors are never minor!) such as
5 times 0 is 5. As you can probably tell, I help those who have tried to
help themselves.

Obviously this technique frustrates those students who do not try to
complete their homework...but after the first quiz/test, I normally find
that more students are doing their homework. 

---
Dr. William R. Schooley 
Professor, Department of Mathematics Sciences
Division of Technology, Mathematics and Physical Sciences (TMPS) 
Harper College
1200 West Algonquin Road, Palatine, IL 60067
847-925-6699 (Office: D221)           847-925-6375 (TMPS: H119)
847-925-6049 (FAX)




email: wschoole@harper.cc.il.us


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