|
There was a time when my pride as a pure mathematician prevented me
from opening myself up to technology. One day, when the internet bubble
was bubbling, it dawned to me that there is a lot of opportunities to
be grabbed from this new media.
I realized that I have to do some catching up. My strategy was simple:
If there is an opportunity to learn a particular technology, I will
do it.
If there is a technology that will be helpful in my job / teaching,
then I will figure out a way to learn it.
As much humble as I am regarding my political and leadership skills,
I do have a mission and a vision. We can bring undergraduate instruction
online to the study room of each student.
In Spring 99, for the first time, I posted complete lecture notes online
for the Discrete Mathematics (Math
106).
How would I Teach?
My Elementary Statistics course (
Math 365) and the Topics of Mathematics course (
Math 105) have 3 components:
- Provide complete lecture
notes.
- Provide multimedia interactive online illustrations
and problem solutions.
- An online homework
system is used. The system provides instant grading and feedback
and also has multiple submission option until the due date.
Student's Reaction:
- Online Evaluation from
Math 365 students.
- Online Evaluation from
Math 105 students.
- Summary of survey data:
| Unless Obvious, Maximum possible is 10
|
| |
Course :
Semester |
Math 365 :
Summer 00 |
Math 105 :
Fall 00 |
Math 365 :
Fall 01 |
Math 105 :
Spring 02 |
| |
The Question |
mean |
st. Dev. |
mean |
st. Dev |
mean |
st. Dev |
mean |
st. Dev |
| 1 |
Student's Satisfaction Level |
7.24 |
2.47 |
8.14 |
1.70 |
8.34 |
1.98 |
8.39 |
2.07 |
| 2 |
Student's Comfort Level |
7.43 |
2.13 |
7.96 |
2.00 |
8.20 |
2.20 |
8.39 |
2.06 |
| 3 |
Student's Preference to Online Homework |
7.55 |
2.22 |
9.18 |
1.32 |
8.44 |
2.28 |
8.47 |
2.00 |
| 4 |
Will You Receive a Better Grade? |
17 YES out of 21 |
44 YES out of 49 |
43 YES out of 50 |
296 YES out of 342 |
| 5 |
Did Your Confidence Level in Math Improved? |
6.62 |
2.75 |
7.61 |
2.44 |
7.34 |
2.68 |
7.88 |
2.43 |
| 6 |
Spent More Time On Homework? |
3.98 |
1.89 |
4.43 |
2.64 |
4.00 |
2.65 |
4.39 |
2.72 |
| 7 |
Spent More Time for the Course? |
4.52 |
2.06 |
3.88 |
2.02 |
3.8 |
2.28 |
3.77 |
2.24 |
| 8 |
Recommend Online Homework as Standard Feature? |
6.62 |
2.84 |
8.49 |
2.36 |
7.78 |
2.51 |
7.99 |
2.40 |
| 9 |
Did You Have More Fun? |
6.95 |
2.46 |
8.02 |
2.24 |
7.6 |
2.51 |
8.29 |
2.25 |
| 10 |
Is Online Homework a Good Teaching/learning Tool? |
7.10 |
2.43 |
8.43 |
1.67 |
8.4 |
1.92 |
8.26 |
2.12 |
| 11 |
Overall Rating regarding Online homework? |
7.33 |
2.46 |
8.61 |
1.43 |
8.42 |
2.12 |
8.53 |
2.17 |
Funding and Research
I had some success with internal funding but none with external funding.
We (with Barbara Watkins) wrote a proposal last year. It should be possible
to win external funding with the kind of work I am doing. A successful
funding proposal may require collaboration across various desciplines.
It will be nice if some of you would look at the NSF site on CCLI
program.
|
List
of Courses
Math 116: Calculus II (Spring 03)
Math 365: Elementary Statistics (Spring
03)
Math 791: Modern Algebra I (Fall 02)
Math 105:Topics in Mathematics (Spring
02)
Math 106
: Discrete Mathematics (Spring 99)
Online Support
Online Course
Manager
List of Flash
Animations
Online Evaluation
Online Evaluation from
Math 365 students.
Online Evaluation from
Math 105 students.
Funding
NSF CCLI
program. |