Introduction to Functions, Domain, and Range

HW #5

Questions about PreCalc

Precalculus 2012-2013

These are answers to questions I’ve recently been asked regarding my precalculus class this year.

Q: Why change the structure  of the classroom?

A: In an English class, students read a book at home and then come the class for an energetic discussion on the subject. In precalculus this year I would like to do something similar.  Instead of sending students home to struggle with their math homework, I would rather help them with their work during class after they have watched and taken notes from the online lessons I’ve created.  I believe a more differentiated classroom that can attend to the needs of individuals will better help my students develop the 21^st century learning skills that they will need in college.

Q: So how will class change?

A:  For some precalculus topics, I’ve been using a variety of software packages to record and edit lectures at home.  Students will be able to watch those lessons for homework while taking notes on a handout I provide in class. Then, in class we are able to do homework problems together. I can walk around the class and help each student one-on-one making better use of the time I am with them, now that I'm not lecturing first. I would like to use the current technology that all students are surrounded with to enhance my precalculus lessons. As I've already told my class, I would like to engage my students using the same technology that they are already engaged in.

Q: When do they need to watch the lessons?

I've met students who are smiling and singing in the morning and then wind down by the end of the day. I've met other students who are just the opposite. I've always felt bad for students who have some of their most difficult classes scheduled at the worst time of day for them. My precalculus students can watch their lessons in the library before they go home or at 11 o'clock at night on the couch with a laptop. In other words it will be up to them to decide the best time to get their homework done.

Q: Would you consider making some changes?   I'm concerned about my child not receiving notes in class and I think they already spend too much time on YouTube.

A:   I have already made two changes last week that I think are for the better and that address these two specific issues. First, I've decided to relocate the presentations I've made to my website rather than providing a link to YouTube.   This way, my math students will be less distracted by ads and videos of cats walking on piano of keys.  Second, I'm going to provide the class with a written outline of each presentation that they can use to record notes while they are watching my instruction on video. Each student can edit these as they see fit and they can be organized in a two pocket folder that I'm happy to provide.

Q: Will my son/daughter be watching online lessons every night?

A: Definitely not. Some classes will be traditional lectures, while others will be lab experiments and group work.

Q:  How long will your lessons be available to view online?

A:  All of my videos should remain posted for the length of this course. I hope my students will view them often and review any material they choose at any time throughout the school year. 

HW #4

HW #3

The week of Sept.17th-21st

It has been a busy two weeks.  We spent the first week trying to remember all the algebra we learned in classes past.  Now we are reviewing a variety of math topics, all of which you can see in the videos HW#1-HW#5.  We have a test this Friday and Wednesday next week I plan to begin our work on functions.  

Below, please find the answers to our HW #2 on p20

The week of Sept. 2nd-8th

This week I set out to ruin the end of the summer for several of my pre-Calc students. I have called several and plan to call several more, of my upcoming math students and ask them to give me their first impressions of my reverse classroom presentations. The instructions were to visit the school website and find my homepage. Then they were to preview one or all of the homework videos and send me an e-mail through the school giving me their review. I'm sure I'll find suggestions concerning points I should change but I'm hoping to also find a few positive comments that I can carry through when I began making my next round of videos.