Category: Assignments (Page 3 of 7)

HW#3: Review of [How Does Technology Influences Student Learning][Zhu, Mei]

October 6, 2016 / Mei Zhu / 2 Comments

The implementation of technology in the classroom has a positive effect in students’ learning process and outcomes. This paper claims that explicit learning standards and objectives support the effectiveness of technology greatly. Taking advantage of technology in the school work, students will be able to apply content knowledge to real-world situations and be more interested in the text. Also, the paper addresses the involvement of technology develops students’ higher-order thinking skills by utilizing technology as a tool to present their works with a full picture with events. Lastly, the paper discusses the advantage of technology in preparing students for the workforce by enriching the experience of communicating ideas and information.

I agree with the statement that the combination of technology and learning standards will strengthen students’ understanding of the content. From elementary to high school, the most advanced technology is calculator. When I entered college, I learned more software to learn Mathematics. I learned how to use Maple during my first semester in college for calculus class. I found it very useful to plot complicated graphs, to calculate integrals and derivatives of a function, and to make a conclusion based on the results. Gradually, I started learning Geogebra for my Geometry and Modern Algebra projects. Using technology as a tool helped me understand the concepts better and saved me a lot of time in drawing pictures with measurement. Recently, I do not have any experience of applying technology in real-world situations; however, I believe that people do use technology to solve life problems. Except social interactions with the social media, people can use computer to make a model and to test outcomes. I learned to use R to make a random walk model by assigning different variables in a research. I guess that it may be the starting point of applying technology into real life.

I am definitely with the last point that technology brings work opportunities. For example, we can write the software we are expert in onto our resumes. As future teachers, learning to use more software and being able to convert among them will help me to become a more flexible teacher. Students might get bored with paper worksheets, so teaching students to use technology to study and have fun might be a good approach to raise students’ interest in learning.

http://educ116eff11.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/44935610/Article.StudentLearning.pdf

HW #8: Due Thursday, October 13

October 3, 2016 / Kate Poirier / 0 Comments

Exercises 1-3 below are to be performed in GeoGebra. Exercises 4 and 5 are to be answered using complete sentences, including precise mathematical terminology. Email your completed homework to kpoirier@citytech.cuny.edu by 2:30pm on Thursday, October 13.

Exercises 1-3 are to be completed in GeoGebra. If you are using the desktop version of GeoGebra, attach your files to your email. If you are using the web-browser version of GeoGebra, include a link to your worksheet in the email.

Your answers for exercises 4 and 5 can be written in the body of your email, attached as a separate document, or included as text boxes in your GeoGebra file.

Construct a triangle $\bigtriangleup ABC$ . Construct the centroid, orthocenter, and circumcenter. Label these points $G$ , $H$ , and $O$ , respectively.
Put a line through two of the points constructed above. What relationship do you notice among the three points. Use the drag test to see if this relationship continues to hold. Add your conclusion as a text box in your GeoGebra worksheet.
Measure the distances $HG$ and $GO$ . Describe the ratio $latex \frac{HG}{GO} as the triangle changes. Add this ratio as a text box in your GeoGebra worksheet.
Write a clear summary of the relationships among the triangle centers that you discovered above (these relationships are the Euler Line Theorem).
Does the above activity constitute a proof of the Euler Line Theorem? Why or why not?

HW #7: Article/blog post review – Due Thursday, October 6

September 29, 2016 / Kate Poirier / 13 Comments

There are lots of ways to consume information about technology in the classroom. Later in the semester, you will be reading and presenting formal research papers in the field. For this homework exercise, you’ll perform a much less formal review. Post your findings here on the OpenLab.

Instructions

Find an article or a blog post anywhere on the internet that discusses technology as a pedagogical tool.
Before you write your review, include a link to that article/post as a comment on this post to claim it as yours. Make sure none of your classmates have already chosen the same article/post.
Write a one- or two-paragraph summary of the article. (Write your summary so that when your classmates read it, they’ll know what the main points of the article are, and can decide whether they would like to read the article for themselves.)
Write a one- or two-paragraph statement expressing your opinion about the points made in the article. (You don’t have to be super precise here; you can discuss the points in the article whether you agree or disagree with them based on how they relate to your own experience.)
If the website where you found your article/post is not that of a well-known media organization, include one sentence about the kind of website it is. (For example, if you choose a blog post, the “About” section of the blog should tell you a bit about who the post author is.)
Submit your review, along with a link to your article/post as an OpenLab post. Title your post “HW #3: Review of [title of the article/post you’ve chosen].” Select the category “HW #7: Article/blog post review” before publishing your OpenLab post.

How to choose an article/blog post

You have some flexibility in terms of what you choose to review, but there are some rules you must follow:

Read a few different articles or blog posts before selecting one to review.
The article/post you choose must express an opinion about technology in the classroom, report on an academic study about technology in the classroom or discuss specific strategies for using technology as a pedagogical tool.
The article/post you choose should support its arguments with evidence.
The article/post you choose cannot simply report on a type of technology being used, or how widespread its use is. It cannot be a “how-to” guide for using a particular technology yourself.
The article/post you choose cannot be published by a company that is writing to promote its own product.
The article/post you choose should be long enough that it is insightful in some way. Your summary/opinion should tell us why it is insightful.
The article/post you choose should be short enough that a fast reader could read it in under 15 minutes. (For example, you should not review a scholarly research article.)
If you have an article/post in mind and aren’t sure whether it is appropriate, link to it in the comments on this post and explain why you’re unsure. Leave enough time before the deadline to choose something else if I determine it’s not appropriate.
The article/post you choose should be written in English. If you find something that’s written in another language and that you’d really like to review, link to it in the comments on this post and explain why it appeals to you. Leave enough time before the deadline to choose something else if I determine it’s not appropriate.

Some resources

Note: some of these websites require a subscription to access articles, but will provide a selection for free to non-subscribers.

The Chronicle of Higher Education

Inside Higher Ed

New York Times Education Section

Los Angeles Times Education Setion

Washington Post Education Section

Slate

Math with Bad Drawings

dy/dan

HW #6 – Due Thursday, September 29

September 22, 2016 / Kate Poirier / 1 Comment

Venema exercise 2.2.3 – 2.2.12

HW #5: LaTeX scratchpad – Due Tuesday, September 27

September 22, 2016 / Kate Poirier / 90 Comments

$\LaTeX$ (pronounced LAY-teck) is a commonly used language for typesetting math. There are many ways to use $\LaTeX$ to create professional looking documents (most involve installing an implementation on your computer) but you can also use $\LaTeX$ to type math right in your OpenLab posts.

Professor Reitz has some great instructions for using $\LaTeX$ on the OpenLab here (scroll to “Typing math on the OpenLab”).

It can take some getting used to, your homework is to practice by submitting a comment on this post. Don’t worry about typing something that makes any mathematical sense, just try typing anything. Play around and make a giant mess in these comments. If something doesn’t work at first, don’t worry; just try again. (Note that your first OpenLab comment will have to be approved before it appears.)

You can mouse-over something to see what LaTeX code was. For example, mouse-over this: $\frac{d}{dx} \left( \int_a^x f(t)dt \right) = F(x)$ to see what I entered.

If you submit something that LaTeX doesn’t understand, it will display “formula does not parse” but you can also mouse-over that to see what was submitted.

Other resources:

The Not So Short Introduction to $\LaTeX$
The Comprehensive $\LaTeX$ Symbol List
A shorter $\LaTeX$ symbol list
Overleaf (writing full documents and collaborating online)
The $\LaTeX$ Project (an overview)

Rubric Feedback

September 20, 2016 / Sonam / 0 Comments

I liked the rubric for following reasons:

1) it has clearly delineated point, it contained all main components that we are looking for in our project and they are understandable.

2)subcategories that related to main point, In each category it included descriptions of specific thing that we are looking for.

3) it was very easy for us to grading.

4) the total points per section breakdowns in subsections, in other words, the points are distributed among the subcomponents the rubric listed for each main parts.

5. it is great that we got room for comments, because a grade is just a number if we do not explain why it was assigned. I think it will help students to know he or she did a good job or explains in more deteil where

[Rubric,feedback],[Abdelmajid,Ihda]

September 20, 2016 / abdelmajid / 0 Comments

Firstly the rubric was good and appropriate to use, I found it easy to work with, the questions stated clearly and in order. under each column the descriptions are accurate and very detailed. In addition I think that is good that there is only 4 to 3 questions to answer because we only have 3 min window to answer them, it fits our time frame perfectly. we did a rubric in Medu1010 class but not in a computer, it was just in piece of paper where you have to answer questions about the presenter. I remember it took time for us to complete it. So I think doing that in the computer is more effective.

I didn’t consider the rubric when I was preparing my presentation, witch I should have done. because from it you can see what a perfect presentation should be. so for my next time I will definitely consider it to improve my presentation.

I don’t think we should change anything in the rubric, it is brief, clear and accurate.

[Rubric Feedback] [Zhu, Mei]

September 20, 2016 / Mei Zhu / 0 Comments

I think this rubric was appropriate for the presentations because it has many expectations of a good teacher. First, the presentation was not very long, and people might think that the rubric required too much for a ten-minute presentation. However, as heard from some fellow students who already done student teaching, the actual lesson in a class was about 20 minutes. As a result, using this rubric for our presentations will prepare us for future lesson plans. Better off will always be better than unprepared for something new.

It was not easy for me when the first presenter presented because it seemed a little beyond what I expected to grade a classmate’s presentation. To be honest, I concentrated on the descriptors of the rubric and did not read the four levels of comments very carefully.

I was not so confident with the grading that I did feel bad to assign a low grade for the presenter who spent time and worked hard for this mini lesson.

I did not consider the rubric that carefully when I was preparing my presentation, but I think I will learn more if I refer to this rubric for future presentations. It is indeed a very good exercise for each of us to be well prepared for the class and the students. Understanding this rubric and making use of the rubric well will help us perform like a profession.

It surprised me when I read one of the descriptions“The presentation has a clearly defined structure with elegant transitions and an effective introduction and conclusion.” in the rubric. I understand that that is very important to get students’ attention at the beginning of the class and be clear at the end of the lesson. The, students will get an idea what they are going to learn out of this lesson. Also, reviewing the topics at the end of the class will strengthen students’ active learning. However, it is not easy at all because we should consider the class as a whole and make sure students are in the same pace so no one is falling behind.

In my MEDU 1010 class, we also had a presentation at the end of the semester. We had to make a lesson plan and to make a 15- minute presentation in the class. Each of us would have a task paper to act different roles. So, our comments to the presenter would be based on how he or she made the rules to the students. The Do Now activity, the interactions with students, and also immediate action taking for students who talked in the class, phones at hand, or dozed off in the classroom. We graded the presentation using an overall grade and then in details writing about the grade level of the lesson was for, how the presenter reacts to the class, and how he or she wrapped up the lesson at the end.

In my opinion, the feedback form is enough because it has the three main characteristics of a good teacher. The form was easy because there are only four items we need to fill out. I think for the writing part, we can divide it into two parts. One part is stating what the presenter did well, and the other one is about what the presenter needs to improve to do better next time.

Rubric Feedback Josiel

September 18, 2016 / Josiel / 0 Comments

Honestly I think the rubric was perfectly fine. There is nothing I can do to make it better I think it clearly outlines what makes a good presentation and a great presentation.

Considering that this was our first presentation, we could definitely use this experience to create future presentations magnificent. I personally didn’t look over the rubric for myself, I kind of just winged my presentation. I think that if I focus to hard on what to do, I might end up doing something that I’m not suppose to do.

Rubrics have been around for so long, in Middle School and High School, teachers used rubrics all the time. Again, I usually ignore the rubrics and kind of just wing whatever I have to do. I know this isn’t a good thing but its common sense. I believe you have to present your topic clearly, explain without difficulties and have a good structure (a good transition between slides and topics).

The form was easy enough to do and again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Desmos Project Feedback

September 16, 2016 / Kate Poirier / 0 Comments

I’m working on individual posts for your Desmos project feedback now. Your password for your post is your 8-digit CUNY ID (Empl) number; let me know if you have any trouble accessing your individual posts by commenting on this one. Once you access your individual post, if you’re comfortable sharing it publicly, submit a comment on it and I’ll take the password-protection off.

In your individual post, you’ll see

Instructor feedback (as bullet points from my notes; we discussed many of these in class yesterday)
Score table (12 possible points from the instructor score, 12 from the class average score, and 1 possible for submitting your OpenLab post for a possible total of 25 points)
Peer feedback (anonymous; includes all scores and feedback from the form the class used)

Let me know if you have any questions.