Hello again

A lifetime seems to have passed since I've last been here!
That is the problem with starting something to fulfill course requirements...... you tend to forget about it very shortly after, (much like how students view learning).
To keep up with this blog, I must have a passion for it or be intrisically motivated. I may not really have a passion for blogging, but my motivation is my desire to speak about my feeling and experiences in teaching mathematics. I want to share this with all interested parties.

So recently I developed a research proposal for the use of knowledge surveys in calculus where students rate their confidence in knowing the concepts required for the entire course at the beginning and then again at the end of the semester. What are my expectations? Unfortunately, that they will not have any confidence at the beginning and that there would be little improvement at the end. Let's hope I'm wrong for the sake of a good research paper!

I do think  knowledge surveys are a great way to focus students on what is required and hope to use them in all my courses if I can find the time to prepare them all.

Reading Week

Do mathematics students ever use this week before final exams to 'read' or revise mathematics? Maybe this week should be renamed since most students tend to ignore their looming math final and study those subjects that have a significant 'reading' content. As I give final tutorials and try to sort out missing coursework marks, I try to think of wayts in which I could indeed get students to 'read' math this week. maybe i might have to put it in cartoon form!!!!

The start of a new semester!

The new semester begins and there is much enthusiasm  for having another set of fresh minds to mold, but this question always returns ............
How do I do things better with this new group of students?  In striving to improve my own teaching and hence, I hope, my students' learning experience, there is always a fear that maybe, the different methods may not work. They may not work for me..... and they may not work for my students. I will not know unless I try! So that is what I will do. Try, try and try again!!!