|
|
|
Ted - One tool that I have found especially effective is going over the
basics of a subject fairly quickly so that the students have a good overview
and then putting the students to work on applications in groups. This way
they really see how the process works and how they can put it to use fairly
quickly. When I have them in groups I do go around and work with each group,
asking questions that will get them to think "out of the box."
Another tool that my students really like is being able to correct any
mistakes on a test for partial credit. They really start to understand things
better when they correct those mistakes. Often it takes the testing
situation to solidify where the problems are. Having gone through a situation
in High School Chemistry where I didn't understand until the instructor went
over the test, I have learned to use it to my advantage.
I also give at least one, and possibly more than one, take home test each
semester. These tests are not easy. In fact, they are extremely detailed and
encompass a wide variety of problems. I also encourage them to work together
on this and give them some class time to work on it -- maybe 15 minutes at
the end of a couple of classes.
I have my students write about the content -- and how they will use it.
They produce an essay for me each semester. They also develop some of their
own word problems, and explain how to do certain procedures. In addition, I
have adapted the portfolio idea to the math classroom and require them to
keep a notebook. The structure of the notebook is up to them but I must be
able to find the information about a particular subject easily. I tell them
this is done so that they will have a good reference for the next class --
where they can go back and see how they learned it and relate it to what they
are then studying. It doesn't have to be a math class where they will use
it. I frequently have potential nursing students who must use measurement in
a lot of their other classes and must get 100% on a drug calculation test to
stay in their program. I point out that if I can find it, they can do it a
year down the road.
I find that a lot of my assessment of a student's style goes on before
and after class as well as during breaks with the longer ones. I try to get
to class early and chat about almost any subject other than math. By making
myself more human in their eyes, they open up a great deal more. I develop
situations with my grandchildren into applications that we have fun with.
"Will Nana be able to clean up the house Damian is messing up?" is a great
work problem as are Chip and Dale storing acorns in a tree while some
squirrels are stealing them. My linear equation problems may be buying gifts
for the kids on sale. How many can I get?
I also work with my students who have either math or text anxiety. I
start teaching them some relaxing techniques and make sure they have a glass
of ice water with them for a test. Research has recently shown that stress
can make us produce a chemical that will make us "go blank" and these
techniques help to ease the situation. I frequently ask these students
questions to get them thinking on the right track. If I don't have to give
them any answers, they get full credit. If they have to be led by the hand
and taught, I take points off for help -- points they can partially recoup by
doing the problem over again when correcting mistakes. I have also been
known to give neck rubs to a particularly tense student though I let them
know I will abide by their wishes if they don't want it.
I also take the time during the first few weeks of class to explore some
study skills and have the students take a Myers-Briggs inventory off the
Internet and explore what the results mean with my teaching of the class and
their learning style. I find that the time I spend then is well worth it
when I see the grade spread in the class. I include computer based learning
in all my classes and give grades for lesson completion or computer quizzes.
(I take the 10 highest grades of many 10 point assignments.)
I also use MY MISTAKES as a starting point for learning. It is often the
student who is struggling to follow something that catches me in a
calculation error. In addition to getting extra credit for it, the student
may see me modeling the type of behavior they need to use when trying to find
a problem. I give practice tests before in-class tests -- with solutions. In
the solutions the method is always correct but the answers may not be. I use
copying and calculation errors to keep them on their toes. The first person
to find one gets the credit. They get credit for finding errors in the text
and tests -- including typos.
All of these techniques help me assess the learning of my students. I do
not believe in using just one measure of assessment. Throughout the entire
class, I try to model a good problem-solving strategy since students, like
children "do what we do rather than what we say."
MaryLiz Pierce
GateWay Community College
Phoenix, AZ
|
|
|
Archives |
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011, Week 3
January 2011, Week 2
January 2011, Week 1
January 2011
December 2010, Week 5
December 2010, Week 4
December 2010, Week 3
December 2010, Week 2
December 2010, Week 1
November 2010, Week 5
November 2010, Week 4
November 2010, Week 3
November 2010, Week 2
November 2010, Week 1
October 2010, Week 5
October 2010, Week 4
October 2010, Week 3
October 2010, Week 2
October 2010, Week 1
September 2010, Week 5
September 2010, Week 4
September 2010, Week 3
September 2010, Week 2
September 2010, Week 1
August 2010, Week 5
August 2010, Week 4
August 2010, Week 3
August 2010, Week 2
August 2010, Week 1
July 2010, Week 5
July 2010, Week 4
July 2010, Week 3
July 2010, Week 2
July 2010, Week 1
June 2010, Week 5
June 2010, Week 4
June 2010, Week 3
June 2010, Week 2
June 2010, Week 1
May 2010, Week 4
May 2010, Week 3
May 2010, Week 2
May 2010, Week 1
April 2010, Week 5
April 2010, Week 4
April 2010, Week 3
April 2010, Week 2
April 2010, Week 1
March 2010, Week 5
March 2010, Week 4
March 2010, Week 3
March 2010, Week 2
March 2010, Week 1
February 2010, Week 4
February 2010, Week 3
February 2010, Week 2
February 2010, Week 1
January 2010, Week 5
January 2010, Week 4
January 2010, Week 3
January 2010, Week 2
January 2010, Week 1
December 2009, Week 5
December 2009, Week 4
December 2009, Week 3
December 2009, Week 2
December 2009, Week 1
November 2009, Week 5
November 2009, Week 4
November 2009, Week 3
November 2009, Week 2
November 2009, Week 1
October 2009, Week 5
October 2009, Week 4
October 2009, Week 3
October 2009, Week 2
October 2009, Week 1
September 2009, Week 5
September 2009, Week 4
September 2009, Week 3
September 2009, Week 2
September 2009, Week 1
August 2009, Week 5
August 2009, Week 4
August 2009, Week 3
August 2009, Week 2
August 2009, Week 1
July 2009, Week 5
July 2009, Week 4
July 2009, Week 3
July 2009, Week 2
July 2009, Week 1
June 2009, Week 5
June 2009, Week 4
June 2009, Week 3
June 2009, Week 2
June 2009, Week 1
May 2009, Week 5
May 2009, Week 4
May 2009, Week 3
May 2009, Week 2
May 2009, Week 1
April 2009, Week 5
April 2009, Week 4
April 2009, Week 3
April 2009, Week 2
April 2009, Week 1
March 2009, Week 5
March 2009, Week 4
March 2009, Week 3
March 2009, Week 2
March 2009, Week 1
February 2009, Week 4
February 2009, Week 3
February 2009, Week 2
February 2009, Week 1
January 2009, Week 5
January 2009, Week 4
January 2009, Week 3
January 2009, Week 2
January 2009, Week 1
December 2008, Week 5
December 2008, Week 4
December 2008, Week 3
December 2008, Week 2
December 2008, Week 1
November 2008, Week 5
November 2008, Week 4
November 2008, Week 3
November 2008, Week 2
November 2008, Week 1
October 2008, Week 5
October 2008, Week 4
October 2008, Week 3
October 2008, Week 2
October 2008, Week 1
September 2008, Week 5
September 2008, Week 4
September 2008, Week 3
September 2008, Week 2
September 2008, Week 1
August 2008, Week 5
August 2008, Week 4
August 2008, Week 3
August 2008, Week 2
August 2008, Week 1
July 2008, Week 5
July 2008, Week 4
July 2008, Week 3
July 2008, Week 2
July 2008, Week 1
June 2008, Week 5
June 2008, Week 4
June 2008, Week 3
June 2008, Week 2
June 2008, Week 1
May 2008, Week 5
May 2008, Week 4
May 2008, Week 3
May 2008, Week 2
May 2008, Week 1
April 2008, Week 5
April 2008, Week 4
April 2008, Week 3
April 2008, Week 2
April 2008, Week 1
March 2008, Week 5
March 2008, Week 4
March 2008, Week 3
March 2008, Week 2
March 2008, Week 1
February 2008, Week 5
February 2008, Week 4
February 2008, Week 3
February 2008, Week 2
February 2008, Week 1
January 2008, Week 5
January 2008, Week 4
January 2008, Week 3
January 2008, Week 2
January 2008, Week 1
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001
December 2000
November 2000
October 2000
September 2000
August 2000
July 2000
June 2000
May 2000
April 2000
March 2000
February 2000
January 2000
December 1999
November 1999
October 1999
September 1999
August 1999
July 1999
June 1999
May 1999
April 1999
March 1999
February 1999
January 1999
December 1998
November 1998
October 1998
September 1998
August 1998
July 1998
June 1998
May 1998
April 1998
March 1998
February 1998
January 1998
December 1997
November 1997
October 1997
September 1997
August 1997
July 1997
June 1997
May 1997
April 1997
March 1997
February 1997
January 1997
December 1996
November 1996
October 1996
September 1996
August 1996
July 1996
June 1996
May 1996
April 1996
March 1996
February 1996
January 1996
December 1995
November 1995
October 1995
September 1995
August 1995
July 1995
June 1995
May 1995
April 1995
March 1995
February 1995
January 1995
|
|
