CYNTHIA YOUNGPROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

Top Ten Teaching Tips

You may not get all students to LOVE Math

but you can get all students to LOVE

SUCCEEDING at Math

Ontario Colleges Mathematics Association

“XXX-For the LOVE of Math”

•“I understand you in class but when I get home I am

lost”

•“It seems so easy when you do it.”There is a GAP that exists between when we have our

students with us and when they are independent learners.

Has a student ever said to you..

Challenge Pedagogy

Student’s are not interested. •Make it REAL.

Skills/Concepts Balance •Teach and ASSESS both skills and concepts.

Students don’t READ the text. •Parallel words and math (your voice)•Reading the book in class “buys” you time.

Engage During Class Your Turn

Assess During Class Raise Hands: Simple Answers

Effective GROUP work •Think/Pair/Share Challenge

Different Learning Style:Counterexample •Common Mistake•Catch the Mistake

Poor study skills/Not prepared for class •Online Homework

Mistakes Propagated in HWKLack of Confidence

•Get out of class problem

Modeling (gathering data and developing models)

•Modeling YOUR World

# 1: Make it REAL

rV

Doubling Time: Exponential Growth

AGE Ann Ginger

25 $5,000

35 $10,000 $5,000

45 $20,000 $10,000

55 $40,000 $20,000

65 $80,000 $40,000

If you upgrade your tires, don’t forget to get the onboard computer adjusted.

Invest EARLY because it’s not the first time your money doubles, it’s the last time your money doubles.

#2: Balancing Skills with Concepts

• Both Skills and Concepts should be explicitly stated.• Both Skills and Concepts should be assessed.

SkillGraph the polynomial function.

ConceptT /F The graph of a polynomial function might not have any x-intercepts.T /F The graph of a polynomial function might not have any y-intercepts.

Be aware of not overcompensating for skills at the expense of concepts.

#3: Reading the Book in Class Buys You Time

Reading the book in class:• Gets students comfortable opening the book• Buys you time

#4: Engaging Students With Your Turn

• Students can raise their hands and as an instructor we immediately can assess their level of understanding.

• Negative (left hand), Positive (right hand), an answer that is an integer that can be raised on a hand.

#5: In Class Assessment

2

2

ln( 8) ln( ) ln( 3)

ln( 8) ln ( 3)

8 ( 3)

8 3

2 8 0

( 4)( 2) 0

4,2

x x x

x x x

x x x

x x x

x x

x x

x

x = -4 is extraneous.

2x

Assessing Students IN CLASS

#6: Think/Pair/Share Challenge

#7: Catch the Mistake

Correct

or

xx 42

0)4(

042

xx

xx

Solve for x :

0x 4x

Incorrect

4

42

x

xx

The root x = 0 is lost when the original quadratic equation is divided by x. Never divide by a variable (it may be zero). Remember to put the equation in standard form first and then factor.

Catch the Mistake

#8: Using Wiley Plus Effectively:Read Ahead Quizzes

and Cumulative Assessment

A B C D F0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%

College Algebra: FINAL EXAM

Wiley Plus: Read Ahead Quizzes and Cumulative Homework (Yellow)

•INSTILLS CONFIDENCE•GIVES YOU A FEW SECONDS OF ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH EACH STUDENT.•CATCHES MISCONCEPTIONS BEFORE THEY LEAVE CLASS AND GO HOME.•STUDENTS NEED TO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS BEFORE THEY GO HOME. •I ALWAYS PICK NUMBER 38/46/52/26.

#9: Get Out of Class Problem

#10: Modeling YOUR World

Cynthia’s Top 10 Teaching Tips

1. MAKE IT REAL2. BALANCING SKILLS WITH CONCEPTS3. READING THE BOOK IN CLASS BUYS YOU TIME4. ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH YOUR TURN5. IN CLASS ASSESSMENT6. THINK/PAIR/SHARE WITH CHALLENGE7. CATCH THE MISTAKE8. USING WILEY PLUS EFFECTIVELY9. GET OUT OF CLASS PROBLEM 10. MODELING YOUR WORLD

CYNTHIA YOUNGCYYOUNG@MAIL .UCF.EDU

(407) 823-5987

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