A Math Forum Project

Trigonometry and Calculus Problem of the Week: Mentor Information

I. Goals and Objectives

The Problem of the Week Projects are designed to foster the growth of a mathematics community on the Internet. Mentors contribute to the Mathematics community by volunteering to reply to solutions submitted by students. Students discover the joy of exploring challenging math problems with someone outside their regular classroom. Both students and mentors enhance communication skills as they discuss their problem-solving techniques.

II. The Mentors

In the past, mentors for the Elementary problem of the week projects have included:

• classes of elementary, middle school, and high school students with their teachers;
• pre-service teachers;
• college students and professors;
• retirees who like problem solving and interacting with young children;
• others with a love of mathematics and a willingness to share their experience with students.

Classes or individuals who are mentors will need to have access to the Internet during the week(s) they are mentoring. A Web interface has been designed to aid in managing the submissions and responses. A word of caution: when there are many responses, the week can involve a good deal of work.

Because of the increase in participation over the past year, we are offering limited mentoring this year. We have had as many as 500 submissions during one week, though 200-300 is more typical. When you fill out the Mentor Registration Form you may specify the maximum number of submissions you feel equipped to handle. However, if you choose to mentor fewer than 300 submissions, we can not guarantee that you will be able to choose your own problem.

We are also looking for Back-up Mentors who would be willing to respond to overflow for any heavier-than-usual weeks or fill in should a mentor develop technical difficulties and be unable to complete their week.

III.  Benefits for Student Mentors

Students (college and high school) can benefit most from being a mentor. First, students learn how to create good and interesting problems. Second, they get to see that there can be more than one way to solve many problems. Third, they learn to assess student work and analyze common errors and misconceptions. Finally, they get to use the Internet as a learning and communication tool over a period of two weeks.

IV. Responsibilities of Mentors

Mentors are encouraged to find or develop the problems they are to assess. This should happen two to four weeks before your scheduled mentoring week, so the problem can be prepared for posting on the Thursday prior to your week. This is also when you should take your picture, write your bio, and double-check your web page address, all of which will appear with your problem, if you so desire. If you elect to use a problem of our choosing, it will be available through the management program ahead of time so you and your students have time to work on it and to develop the assessment criteria.

Prior to your mentoring week, you will be sent instructions to access the Web program that manages problems and responses. A practice problem will be provided so you can test the system and make sure it works with yours. Since you will reply to the students who submit responses using a Web form, individual e-mail is not required. You will mark each submission indicating which students have solved the problem correctly and then select a few interesting solutions to put into the Highlighted Solutions section. For examples, see a sample posting from the Elementary Problem of the Week archives. You will e-mail us when you have finished, and the solutions will then be posted to the Web. Submissions are accepted through Monday of the week following the posting of the problem, so there will be some wrap-up work for you to do during that second week.

V.  Other help needed

If you would like to be a part of the Trigonometry and Calculus Problem of the Week but don't have the time to commit to being a mentor, we are always in need of good problems. Send your problem suggestions to Leigh at gorrilla@together.net.

VI.  Rewards for Mentor Groups

A biography of the current Mentor Group will appear with the Problem of the Week Web page each week. Photographs and links to school Web pages may be included when available. In addition, Mentors will receive a letter of recognition and certificate. Mentors who go above and beyond the call of duty may also receive special Math Forum treats.

VII.  Online Registration

If you are ready, you may complete the Online Registration Form now. Please complete one form for each "group" and indicate the weeks when you would be available to be a mentor. Please consult your school calendar to make sure you are in session during the times you prefer.

VIII.  Contact Person

If you have any questions or comments after reading the information or at any time during the mentoring process, please contact Leigh:

Leigh Nataro <gorrilla@together.net>
Trig/Calc Problem Project Coordinator
The Math Forum
Swarthmore, PA 19081