Category Archives: Pedagogy

Techniques that work for me sometimes.

Thoughts on a Word Problem

Posted on December 29, 2023 by jrh794

I created this post using OneNote. It was easier just to import a PDF>

Posted in Pedagogy, Rants, Teaching | Tagged | Leave a comment

Make the Course Yours – A Response to AI in the Classroom

Posted on December 1, 2023 by jrh794

Response to the ubiquity of generative AI on college campuses must include rearticulation of both institutional and personal purpose.  Justin Wolpers’ excellent webinar laid out the problem in stark terms.  Nearly all college students use GPT for some of their … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom Happenings, Curriculum, Pedagogy, Rants, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

ChatGPT Takes a Precalculus Essay Test

Posted on February 28, 2023 by jrh794

Test days were good days. They were learning days. At least during those hours, students were actually thinking (mostly) about math. They were also good days when I was a student. I got to solve problems and skip the daily … Continue reading →

Posted in Math Explorations, Pedagogy, Teaching | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

ChatGPT Can Answer Calculus Essay Questions

Posted on February 14, 2023 by jrh794

In a previous post, I gave an example of calculus essay questions that could be used to separate testing for understanding (The “why” of the steps) from testing for skills (The “how” of the steps). Here we will see what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool Ideas, Curriculum, Pedagogy, Teaching | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Creativity Conference II – What Inspired Me

Posted on July 18, 2019 by jrh794

I was inspired  by the smart, sensitive and, yes, creative presenters at our second Creativity Conference here at Southern Oregon University.  Last year I listed what I had learned.  This year I will list what stirred me to action. Art, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool Ideas, Pedagogy, Teaching | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Precalculus Essay Test

Posted on June 25, 2019 by jrh794

As something to do while waiting for new advisees at our first summer registration event, I attempted to turn a typical precalculus exam into an essay test – no calculations, just words.  Actually also diagrams.  You can see it at … Continue reading →

Posted in Curriculum, Pedagogy, Teaching | Tagged | Leave a comment

Teaching Choices

Posted on January 22, 2019 by jrh794

Last week we had a few sixth graders visit our elementary algebra classroom.  While my students were taking their daily quiz, I put this on the board for the youngsters.  I went to the back of the room and explained … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom Happenings, Pedagogy, Teaching | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Good Test …

Posted on December 3, 2018 by jrh794

It is finals time and I am daydreaming. A good test has students emulating reasoning patterns. has students supplying reasons for steps. has students grabbing the best tool for the job. has students display what they learned doing their homework. … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedagogy, Teaching | Tagged | Leave a comment

Intellectual Load – The Student Experience

Posted on November 13, 2018 by jrh794

“Intellectual load” as applied to website design refers to the  extraneous thinking and decision-making caused by poorly organized, inconsistent web page layout and functionality. I would like to apply this concept to the college student experience.  I  extend the definition … Continue reading →

Posted in Curriculum, Pedagogy, Rants, Teaching | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Creativity Conference – What I Learned

Posted on August 7, 2018 by jrh794

The Creativity Conference was held here at SOU last Friday through Monday.   I started out, a naif, knowing nothing about how to think about creativity or how to measure it.  Here is what I learned. Creativity can be taught. Creativity can … Continue reading →

Posted in Curriculum, Pedagogy, Teaching | Tagged | Leave a comment