Teaching Online
Not everything can be learned from a book.
Software that teaches everyone simply does not exist. People are unique.
Artificial intelligence is just another phrase for "I don't have a personal touch."
I have spent decades of teaching, and cycling through learning theories that came and went and came again. My conclusion is that great instruction comes down to sitting across the table from a student and asking "Where did it go wrong for you?"
Here's how these videos can be used:
For younger students, videos can be a valuable supplement to primary instruction.
For older students, these videos may serve as primary instruction.
For all students as review. The student sat through the class,
and just needs to hear or see it again.
Maybe you are among the small percentage of students who love online learning, but you need to find someone who thinks like you do. I might be that person.
Perhaps you're a brand new instructor and you'd like an example to follow. I am someone who's been there, done that, and sifted out the best books and approaches. I have the experience of a range of student ages and settings and a little bigger view of the curriculum and the problems students will encounter.
All students benefit from someone who can hear them, see them, read their body language and take delight when the eyebrows lift, showing they get it.
If I can help any of you, please dig in.
Toys should always be used to teach.
Math and beauty
are everywhere!
Yes, it can be fun!
Video Support for Mathematics
Elementary Algebra
by
Harold Jacobs
Presented by Molly Crocker
The book, among about 10 that I have used, is the best one on the market. It was not hastily produced by a committee to fill up a lineup of high school course offerings by a publisher. It was written carefully, with both student and instructor in mind, by Harold Jacobs, who had seen thousands of math students where he taught. Lessons begin with "Who uses this?" or "Why do I want to learn this?" Exercises are not generated by an algorithm that spits out a worksheet with 8 problems of the same kind, but are crafted to develop thinking.
The only part I wanted to add was use of a graphing calculator, which illuminates ideas beautifully. These were not available when Jacobs wrote the book. They are now necessary for college courses and students should be familiar with them. My instruction supplements the book with the TI-83 or TI-84 graphing calculator. You will want to have one.
