Transcript of COCKTAIL PARTY CALCULUS: COLLABORATIVE WRITING IN MATHEMATICS American Mathematical Association for...
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COCKTAIL PARTY CALCULUS: COLLABORATIVE WRITING IN MATHEMATICS
American Mathematical Association for Two-Year Colleges Nashville,
TN November 13-16, 2014 Keith Nabb Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills,Illinois American Mathematical Association for Two-Year
Colleges Nashville, TN November 13-16, 2014 Keith Nabb Moraine
Valley Community College Palos Hills,Illinois
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Crises in Mathematics Lack of understanding in mathematical
principles Opportunities to communicate about mathematics are rare
Writing skills are mediocre Attention to creativity in America and
its decline Newsweek, 2010 A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink, 2006 Lack
of understanding in mathematical principles Opportunities to
communicate about mathematics are rare Writing skills are mediocre
Attention to creativity in America and its decline Newsweek, 2010 A
Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink, 2006 3
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Is Creativity Dead? Sir Ken Robinson (TED talk, 2006)
Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we
should treat it with the same status. Every education system on
Earth has the same hierarchy of subjects: at the top are
mathematics and languages, then the humanities, and the bottom are
the arts. Human resources are like natural resources; theyre often
buried deep. You have to go looking for them, theyre not just lying
around on the surface. Sir Ken Robinson (TED talk, 2006) Creativity
now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat
it with the same status. Every education system on Earth has the
same hierarchy of subjects: at the top are mathematics and
languages, then the humanities, and the bottom are the arts. Human
resources are like natural resources; theyre often buried deep. You
have to go looking for them, theyre not just lying around on the
surface. 4
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Calculus I (Honors) Moraine Valley Community College Honors
Program Goals Team-building Collaboration Group Activity/Service
projects Leadership Moraine Valley Community College Honors Program
Goals Team-building Collaboration Group Activity/Service projects
Leadership 5
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COCKTAIL PARTY CALCULUS Objective : Students write about a
topic that piques their interest. The discussion should be
substantive yet accessible to a person having no prior exposure to
this topic. Assemble all narratives into book form and share with
incoming Calculus students. 6
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Special emphasis on... Draft/revise/revise/revise Editor/author
relationship Students were authors/coauthors of a chapter One
student was the artist Organization and coherence Each contribution
is special Ask for help if you need it!! Good writing is a process
Draft/revise/revise/revise Editor/author relationship Students were
authors/coauthors of a chapter One student was the artist
Organization and coherence Each contribution is special Ask for
help if you need it!! Good writing is a process 7
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OUTCOMES (STUDENTS) 8
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Diversity of Thought Different methods of studying and
communicating ideas Students/Ideas from around the globe The
chapters give a peek into the mental laboratories of the authors
Different methods of studying and communicating ideas
Students/Ideas from around the globe The chapters give a peek into
the mental laboratories of the authors 9
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Reconnecting to our Creative Nature Creativity is innate As we
age, we tend to take part in fewer creative endeavors To many, math
is cut and dried. Allowing students to tap into their imaginations
can give the mathematics new life Once dormant mathematics can
evolve in this new light Creativity is innate As we age, we tend to
take part in fewer creative endeavors To many, math is cut and
dried. Allowing students to tap into their imaginations can give
the mathematics new life Once dormant mathematics can evolve in
this new light 10
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Writing Ensures Comprehension Coherent writing in mathematics
implies that sufficient knowledge has been attained Writing compels
one to reach a sound understanding of said concept This level of
proficiency is required for teaching Coherent writing in
mathematics implies that sufficient knowledge has been attained
Writing compels one to reach a sound understanding of said concept
This level of proficiency is required for teaching 11
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Teaching via Written Word Writing in this context is similar to
verbal teaching Words need to be chosen with great care Sense of
permanence Understanding the rationale behind an idea Move from
asking how to asking why True understanding/critical thinking are
natural byproducts Teacher perspective Better understanding of how
students see math Allows for instructional adjustments Writing in
this context is similar to verbal teaching Words need to be chosen
with great care Sense of permanence Understanding the rationale
behind an idea Move from asking how to asking why True
understanding/critical thinking are natural byproducts Teacher
perspective Better understanding of how students see math Allows
for instructional adjustments 12
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SURPRISES (TEACHER) 13
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Interdisciplinary work Is this a math project or a writing
project? Student questions Do I need an attention grabber to start
my chapter? How should I organize my chapter? Should I include
examples? What exactly do you want from me? Student outcomes I
didnt have to study the disc method at all after this! I really
feel like Im contributing to a great product. Writing has always
been difficult for me but I like math. I think I like writing too
after this project. Teacher outcomes I saw a completely different
profile of my students Novel assessment Is this a math project or a
writing project? Student questions Do I need an attention grabber
to start my chapter? How should I organize my chapter? Should I
include examples? What exactly do you want from me? Student
outcomes I didnt have to study the disc method at all after this! I
really feel like Im contributing to a great product. Writing has
always been difficult for me but I like math. I think I like
writing too after this project. Teacher outcomes I saw a completely
different profile of my students Novel assessment 14
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Team-oriented attitude Cooperation Unsolicited help from
student to student Peer coaching Students were authors/coauthors of
a chapter One student was the artist Realization that any one
chapter represents a cross section of Cocktail Party Competition
Amicable rivalry A great balance The expectations of the project
allowed this to happen! Cooperation Unsolicited help from student
to student Peer coaching Students were authors/coauthors of a
chapter One student was the artist Realization that any one chapter
represents a cross section of Cocktail Party Competition Amicable
rivalry A great balance The expectations of the project allowed
this to happen! 15
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A different relationship Teacher as editor Check grammar,
relevance, mathematical accuracy Assembling all chapters Requesting
author bios Final formatting and printing Student as contributor
Brainstorming for ideas Drafting/revising a chapter Collaborating
with coauthors Achieving the right balance of mathematics,
exposition, and keeping the reader engaged Teacher as editor Check
grammar, relevance, mathematical accuracy Assembling all chapters
Requesting author bios Final formatting and printing Student as
contributor Brainstorming for ideas Drafting/revising a chapter
Collaborating with coauthors Achieving the right balance of
mathematics, exposition, and keeping the reader engaged 16
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Having fun Author biography Intended transfer institution,
major of study, two hobbies Author biography Intended transfer
institution, major of study, two hobbies 17
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Section Titles Hors doeuvres/Savory Snacks What is a Limit?;
Continuity in a Nutshell; The Intermediate Value Theorem Fine
Conversation/Signature Cocktails The Derivative; Differentiation
Rules; Implicit Differentiation; Optimization; Concavity, White
Castle, and the Affective Domain; Newtons Method Cigars
Interpretations of the Definite Integral; The Fundamental Theorem
of Calculus; u-substitution: Its all about u; On the Relationship
between Integration and Differentiation The Next Morning Area
between Curves; Mathematical Calories: Volumes by Discs;
Center-oids: Mapping out the X; Ultra Violet Voodoo: Integration by
Parts; An Integral Perspective; Nothing Improper; Geometric Series;
Basic Theorems of Infinite Series; When in Doubt, Try this Route:
The Ratio Test; The Cycloid Section Titles Hors doeuvres/Savory
Snacks What is a Limit?; Continuity in a Nutshell; The Intermediate
Value Theorem Fine Conversation/Signature Cocktails The Derivative;
Differentiation Rules; Implicit Differentiation; Optimization;
Concavity, White Castle, and the Affective Domain; Newtons Method
Cigars Interpretations of the Definite Integral; The Fundamental
Theorem of Calculus; u-substitution: Its all about u; On the
Relationship between Integration and Differentiation The Next
Morning Area between Curves; Mathematical Calories: Volumes by
Discs; Center-oids: Mapping out the X; Ultra Violet Voodoo:
Integration by Parts; An Integral Perspective; Nothing Improper;
Geometric Series; Basic Theorems of Infinite Series; When in Doubt,
Try this Route: The Ratio Test; The Cycloid 18 Having fun
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Comic Strips 19
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Having fun Comic Strips 20
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Having fun 21
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Students tell all Ali Kathy Bill Marco Ali Kathy Bill Marco
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IMPLICATIONS/EXTENSIONS You could do this in any math class
Deepens their understanding, enhances their writing/organizational
skills Lends them the freedom to create something that is uniquely
theirs Encourages communication and team-building An idea:
Co-enrollment in math/writing courses Assignments straddle both
subjects Mutually beneficial to each area Students may see the
value in interdisciplinary learning You could do this in any math
class Deepens their understanding, enhances their
writing/organizational skills Lends them the freedom to create
something that is uniquely theirs Encourages communication and
team-building An idea: Co-enrollment in math/writing courses
Assignments straddle both subjects Mutually beneficial to each area
Students may see the value in interdisciplinary learning 26
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Keith Nabb [email protected] www.morainevalley.edu/math
(look in the *News* box) Keith Nabb [email protected]
www.morainevalley.edu/math (look in the *News* box) 27