Re: [MATHEDCC] Homework

Tony Armstrong (alarms0@POP.UKY.EDU)
Tue, 29 Sep 1998 11:36:59 -0400

I use almost this technique. I might not ask them to "produce" their
homework but I will ask the student what (s)he tried before launching into
the problem. I find this discourages students from simply scanning the book
until they see a problem they likely can't do. It also encourages students
to either get involved in a step by step disclosure of their work or (and
even better in my opinion) gets them to sumarize their work into a
description of their process.
--Tony

At 08:28 AM 9/29/98 -0500, you wrote:
>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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