Math Forum Discussions

Al Coons

Posts: 898
Registered: 12/4/04

Workshop Stats Pacing
Posted: Sep 12, 1996 9:44 PM

Plain Text

Alaine asked me the following questions, but I have included my answers on
the listserver since it would be nice to hear how others are using Rossman.

<<I would like to be able to keep in touch with you
throughout the year to check to see if my pace is correct, and where you felt
you had to supplement this text.>>

Hope we can alll help each other. So far I skipped the first part of the
syllabus about learning to use technology. Minitab is so easy to use and it
is available in groups of two in my classroom. In general I am planning to
take two 50 minute class periods to do each topic. This leaves some time to
work on projects and other items. In addition to the two periods per topic I
will add two periods per Chapter to allow for tests and discussions. So far
I am on schedule although I expect to add an extra day to Topic Three since I
am introducing the TI-83 here (as of today) and it eats up much of a period.

By the way, we have very few total class periods in our year so I will just
make it to the AP..Not a day to spare...most other schools have more class
meetings and should have time to go at a more leasurely pace.

<<I would also appreciate knowing what other text you use with your
class.>>

Basic Practice Statistics, Moore
How to Lie with Statistics

<<Do you ask groups to report on the results of each
activity?>>

I pick some important points in the activities and ask students to discuss
them with the entire class <like going over homework>>

<< Or do you just walk around and listen to their
discussions?>>

Do this a lot checking on what they have written down and seeing if they have
picked up important points. Often ask each group of two a question or two.>>

<< Do you collect the homework activities? Should the
homework activities be completed by the group or individually?>>

Do not collect homework. My schedule is that they start an activity during a
class working and checking each other in pairs. They are required to do 80
minutes of homework before the next class - I encourage them to work with
their partner on this if they can. When they come to the second class they
check their work with their partner if they did not work together. I again
go over some important points that I know most of the them have covered.
Then they spend the rest of the period working on the activity. Then they
again have 80 minutes of homework to finish the section, work on projects, do
supplemental reading as assigned in BPS, etc.

Al

PS. How are the rest of you timing out Rossman?