Jonathan Cox September 17, 2014 What I did this summer: Actively learned about active learning or How I overcame my fears & took a leap Jonathan Cox September 17, 2014

June 23-26 Inquiry-Based Learning Workshop at Kenyon College, Ohio MAA Academy of Inquiry-Based Learning Upstate NY Inquiry-Based Learning Consortium IBL ↔ Inquiry-Based Learning ↔ Active Learning

http://citadel.sjfc.edu/faculty/rgantner/ibl/

Fears I would do it wrong. I would take an impossible amount of time to prepare. I wouldn’t cover the needed material.

IBL videos Michael Starbird “What Students Keep for Life: Elements of Effective Thinking” Sandra Laursen “What Has Ally Learned? Outcomes for Students and Teachers of IBL Mathematics Courses” Eric Mazur, “Confessions of a Converted Lecturer”

IBL articles Students’ Difficulties with Proof by Keith Weber Creating Mathematical Futures through an Equitable Teaching Approach: The Case of Railside School by Jo Boaler & Megan Staples The Coverage Issue by Stan Yoshinobu & Matthew G. Jones

Lecture method & student attitudes Talking about Leaving by Seymour and Hewitt Why students leave Science, Math, and Engineering (SME) majors: lack of/loss of interest in SME non-SME major offers better education/more interest poor teaching by SME faculty curriculum overload, fast pace overwhelming

Conclusion Evidence! MOST students learn little to nothing from sitting there watching a professor do math. Lecturing may actually harm students in the “mindset toward mathematics” aspect. Even a partially developed or poorly designed active learning experience will be of more value to a class than a polished, logical, entertaining lecture.

Fears answered I would do it wrong. I would take an impossible amount of time to prepare. I wouldn’t cover the needed material.

The workshop itself Putting the principles into action Vido sessions Nuts and bolts sessions Course development sessions Target course: Geometry, Spring 2015 Follow-up: email list, support network, mentor

History of Math: before

History of Math: after