tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post8021002360622132819..comments2024-03-22T13:39:55.941-07:00Comments on Math Mama Writes...: AMATYC Conference in BostonSue VanHattumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-59968151726150895902010-12-15T18:39:16.188-08:002010-12-15T18:39:16.188-08:00Got it.Got it.Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-63507577389776970082010-12-15T18:30:22.572-08:002010-12-15T18:30:22.572-08:00"So what are popcorn notes?"
Sorry, Sue..."So what are popcorn notes?"<br /><br />Sorry, Sue, for the delay in answering your above question--Feed Demon doesn't consolidate the posts and comments together so I sometimes miss follow-up discussion.<br /><br />Popcorn notes are often used in "basic" level classes of algebra, pre-Algebra and developmental math. They're designed to help the students stay focused during the lesson. <br /><br />A quick example. The students get a hardcopy of the power point lesson that's on the smartboard. One of the ppt slides may say<br /><br /><br />Lines that have the same slope are _________________.<br /><br /><br />The students have to pay attention for when the teacher says the answer and writes it in the blank on the smartboard. The students then write the answer on their hardcopy.<br /><br />From my experience, popcorn notes are mainly useful as a staying focused strategy rather than as meaningful notes for studying from: most students toss them away at the end of class.<br /><br />Your Risk Game seems to be another way to help students stay focused during the lesson, hence the comparison to "popcorn notes."Stephen Laniewskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-33132674322582980962010-11-21T09:53:29.005-08:002010-11-21T09:53:29.005-08:00This course isn't pre-calc. It's the equiv...This course isn't pre-calc. It's the equivalent of a high school algebra II course, more or less. <br /><br />So the function connection is at a lower level. But I do think I can enrich the course by trying to make that connection as clear as possible, as often as possible.<br /><br />(And I never mind you plugging your ideas, Owen.)<br /><br />I think the secret for getting strangers to play with math is being on an airplane. People will do things they usually wouldn't, to escape the boredom. For me, I start noticing how uncomfortable my seat is if I'm not immersed in <i>something</i>.<br /><br />This is at least the second time I've had a fabulous math conversation on a plane. The previous time was many years ago. I'll post about it as soon as I have some illustrations done (the hardest part of blogging imo).Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-12133167742441252722010-11-21T08:44:23.227-08:002010-11-21T08:44:23.227-08:00for the cut-and-paste impaired
(a majority as i gu...for the cut-and-paste impaired<br />(a majority as i guess)<br /><a href="http://vlorbik.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/partial-contents-version-ii/" rel="nofollow">here</a> is the link <br />to Vlorbik on Math Ed's <br />"partial contents" post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-39166128899725348772010-11-21T08:04:57.571-08:002010-11-21T08:04:57.571-08:00getting strangers to talk about math for fun
isn&#...getting strangers to talk about math for fun<br />isn't easy... anyhow, not for me... so, wow.<br /><br />(indeed one encounters outright *hostility*<br />to the whole idea more often than not<br />until, usually, one simply gives up trying.<br />i'm probably going to do that [again] soon<br />but meanwhile have all these zines to<br />pass out...).<br /><br />functions-as-central-concept-of-precalculus<br />makes for a pretty good organizing principle<br />in my opinion (not that it'll be much use<br />*having* one's own opinion on such matters<br />in our actual day-to-day work since courses<br />are designed by other entities than us).<br /><br />the precalc i did just before burning out on VME<br />(and wrecking my career at Midstate Community C)<br />http://vlorbik.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/partial-contents-version-ii/<br />(the 2009 stuff) began with <br />so-called "transformations"<br />of functions... how do changes<br />in the code correspond to changes<br />in the graphs... and this made<br />for a very exiting quarter to me<br />(and, though i say it that shouldn't,<br />for a goodly handful of the students)<br />as i experimented with notations<br />that'd be easy to use and understand.<br />(i think i even arrived at some answers,<br />though of course i despair at getting<br />anybody with any actual influence <br />to care about 'em.)<br /><br />i hope you don't mind my plugging <br />this ancient history here. it sure as<br />heck doesn't seem to do much good<br />plugging it at home. more of my<br />wellknown gives-up-too-easily<br />streak, i suppose...<br /><br />OT his markAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-69445799657232872012010-11-17T14:28:44.834-08:002010-11-17T14:28:44.834-08:00So what are popcorn notes?So what are popcorn notes?Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-73029220250831803022010-11-17T12:21:25.590-08:002010-11-17T12:21:25.590-08:00Thank you! Now I get it and can see some great ap...Thank you! Now I get it and can see some great applications, such as an alternative to "popcorn notes" from time to time.Stephen Laniewskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-55727099459419940482010-11-16T18:16:04.698-08:002010-11-16T18:16:04.698-08:00I don't have an electronic copy yet, but I can...I don't have an electronic copy yet, but I can post the first few questions. I'll edit the post again.Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-56247224304895046942010-11-16T14:59:22.151-08:002010-11-16T14:59:22.151-08:00Any chance you could post the RISK worksheet you u...Any chance you could post the RISK worksheet you used, i.e. the rules for wagering points on each question and succeeding questions? I'm having trouble visualizing it well enough to be able to reproduce it.Stephen Laniewskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-81884646238345098602010-11-16T13:13:24.349-08:002010-11-16T13:13:24.349-08:00Thanks for catching my mistake, Cody. I should hav...Thanks for catching my mistake, Cody. I should have looked over my notes, or done it more carefully. In the workshop we set it up as a function of the cheaper seats. I'll edit my post to reflect that.Sue VanHattumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237941346154683902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303307482158922565.post-29561173666308735822010-11-16T10:34:56.833-08:002010-11-16T10:34:56.833-08:00‘The 10,000 seat stadium will sell out for the roc...‘The 10,000 seat stadium will sell out for the rock concert. The better seats are $65 and the cheaper seats are $45. How many of each ticket type must be sold to bring in revenues of $500,000?’<br /><br />I’ve done enough of those stupid mixture type problems, and I’m amazed at how little thought goes into making them relevant. I love the idea of setting up the revenue as a function of $65 seats sold, although I disagree with your statement that the slope is negative, I think positive $20 is more realistic.<br /><br />By the way, if one wants to keep these type of problems for the purpose of having students solve systems of equations, why not introduce the idea of a linear inequality? The question ‘what is the minimum number of $65 seats that must be sold to bring in revenue of $500,000?’ has the students solve same systems of equations, and has more relevance to the real world.Cody L. Custishttp://www.twitter.com/theblackgeckonoreply@blogger.com