Category: Assignment Instructions (Page 3 of 8)

Due on the OpenLab Sunday, November 29

The HOT topic time slots during Week 13 will be used for Test #2 interviews. After that, we will have only two more chances for HOT topic presentations (Week 14 and Week 15) since the final exam will be given during Week 16. We’re so close!

At this point, a handful of students have already earned 10 H grades and a few more are close to 10. A few other students are a little behind on H grades and, if we can find time for them, might be able to give two presentations during one week to catch up.

In previous weeks, when students have asked to give two presentations (other than making up for a missed week), I have said no, since I can’t offer second time slots to everyone, it doesn’t seem fair. However, some of the students who are finished or close to finished may be willing to give up their time slot so another student can give a second presentation during Week 15 (or maybe even during Week 14).

The question is: what is a fair and practical way to do this?

One option

One option would be to ask the students willing to give up their time slots to remove their names from the schedule. Then students who would like a second time slot can add their names. (As you all know, my schedule is pretty tight, so I don’t think I’d be able to schedule a second presentation for someone at a time not listed on the schedule.) Then the available slots would be first-come-first serve. So it’s possible that not everyone who wants to give a second presentation would be able to.

One detail would be: if a student removes their name from the schedule for Week 14, they could put it back for Week 15 if they wish.

Assignment

Your assignment this week is: add a comment to this post with your thoughts on how we can proceed on this issue as a class. If you think this option would work or if you have another idea, let us know. You will earn participation credit for your input.

Due Sunday, November 22

Motivation

This week one of your big tasks is to prepare for and take Test #2. Do you like to listen to music while you’re studying or while you’re taking a test? Or do you like to listen to music to pump you up right before you take a test? Usually when I give my students tests in face-to-face classes, the room is silent, but a few times students have asked me to play some soft music to help them relax and focus as they write. It was really nice!

Now that you prepare for and take tests in your own space, you get to decide what music you want to listen to!

This week’s assignment is to create a crowd-sourced playlist as a class. Everyone gets to choose a song for the playlist. What do you think your classmates would like to listen to while they study or while they take the test? What do you think they’d like to listen to to energize them before they take the test? I’ve already started a playlist on YouTube and I’ll add your suggestions to it (provided they’re not too…you know…inappropriate). It’s my first YouTube playlist so I am still just learning…

Edit 11/18: I love your suggestions! I realized we needed two playlists: a chill one and a hype one. Hopefully I’ve added the right songs to the right lists.

The first song on the chill playlist is from Philip Glass’s Solo Piano album. I find music with lyrics too distracting while I’m working, so I usually go for instrumental pieces or sometimes music with lyrics in another language. The last time I had to take an exam was in graduate school. I played this CD in my Discman over and over again while I studied in the library and I’m pretty sure it helped me pass. (Does anyone still know what a Discman is???)

The first song on the hype playlist is Robyn’s Dancing on My Own, which always gets me fired up. (Fun fact: a friend of mine went to middle school in Sweden with Robyn and she was his first kiss!) The second song is Don Omar’s Danza Kuduro; my partner puts this one on when I’m sleepy and he’s trying to wake me up…it always works.

Here’s the chill playlist:

Here is the hype playlist:

Instructions

Submit a comment on this post with your song suggestion and a link to a YouTube video with the song. Specify whether your suggestion is for studying for/taking a test or if it’s for pumping yourself up to take a test. If you like, include a few details about what you like about the song. Submit a few suggestions if you like.

Nobody has to actually listen to this playlist if they don’t want to, but it might be nice to have the option while you’re studying and taking the test, provided you have the bandwidth where you are.

The deadline is officially Sunday night, but if you get your suggestions in early enough (and if I can figure out YouTube) the playlist will be ready for your listening pleasure by the time you take Test #2 on Thursday/Friday. Anyone who comments will earn participation credit.

Due on the OpenLab Sunday, November 15

It’s Black in Math Week on Twitter! Throughout the week, Black mathematicians, Black educators, Black students, and others in the Black math community will be tweeting about themselves and their lives in math. Let’s join them! Here is the schedule:

We're ONE WEEK AWAY from #BlackinMathWeek! Take a look at this thread to see what we have in store for you! pic.twitter.com/AKgTFe4MiJ

— Black In Math (@BlackInMath) November 2, 2020

Assignment

For this week’s assignment, check out the @BlackInMath account and look through the week’s tweets that have the hashtags:

• #BlackInMath
• #BlackInMathWeek
• #BlackInMathRollCall
• #ILookLikeAMathematician
• #BlackInMathMedia
• #MyBlackMathJourney
• #BlackInMathEd
• #JingleJangleMathJam

You do not need a Twitter account to see the public tweets. Choose one (or more) of the following prompts and add your response in the comments on this post.

1. Find one of the people in the Black math community who introduced themselves as part of Black in Math week on Twitter. Many of them have already introduced themselves using #BlackInMathRollCall. What else can you find out about them? Many mathematicians have professional websites with more information about them and their work. You can also check out past honorees at Mathematically Gifted and Black. Write a short biography of this person. Include their name and where they are on their math journey (are they a graduate student? a professor? where? do they do research in math? are they involved in the Black math community in some other way?). Include the field of math that they study and anything else you can tell us about them! What makes this person so awesome and interesting to you? What questions do you have for them? Include a link to one of their tweets.
2. Throughout the week, there may be some longer threads or back-and-forth discussions on Twitter as part of Black in Math Week. What patterns do you notice? Did something jump out? Summarize a thread or discussion about being Black in math that was interesting or meaningful to you. What questions do you have? Include a link to one of the tweets.

Update: For some reason OpenLab is requiring that your comments be approved before they appear. I’ll see if I can fix this myself, but if I can’t, just submit your comment and don’t worry if it doesn’t appear right away. It’ll appear as soon as I have the chance to approve it.

Bonus for Black students

Are you a Black student? Are you in math?? Do you have a Twitter account??? Add your voice to Black in Math week by tweeting with one of the hashtags! Introduce yourself to the community and add the link to your tweet in the comments on this post (so we can see your contribution). Don’t want to actually tweet on Twitter but still want to participate? “Tweet” your introduction in the comments on this post below with the hashtag of your choice! (#BlackInCalculus???)

Bonus for non-Black students

Reply to one of your Black classmate’s introduction tweets on Twitter or “tweets” in the comments below with some supportive or encouraging words about what they wrote. Tell them what you think makes them so awesome!

Fun fact

Most of you would be too young to know who the rapper MC Hammer is, but he was a childhood hero of mine. He’s an activist too and lately he’s used his Twitter platform to promote different #BlackInSTEM initiatives, including #BlackInMath. He just retweeted and followed my friend Marissa AND I AM SO EXCITED FOR HER I COULD CRY!!! AAAAHHHH!!! (PS, Someone should totally profile Marissa for Prompt #1 because she is a BOSS!)

Update

MC Hammer is all in on #BlackInMathWeek! He’s retweeting a lot of the introductions and THE NERDS ARE VERY EXCITED!!!

#BlackInMathWeek #Hamm400aos pic.twitter.com/gwhU9VlzGh

— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) November 9, 2020