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Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work. Lawrence E. Levine Stevens Institute of Technology US Military Academy, West Point llevine@stevens-tech.edu http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/~llevine/. Levine’s Technology Theorem.
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Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and LearningSome Approaches That Work Lawrence E. Levine Stevens Institute of Technology US Military Academy, West Point llevine@stevens-tech.edu http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/~llevine/ Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Levine’s Technology Theorem Everything works either at home or in my office, and nothing works when I present it. Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
My Background • Trained as an applied mathematician • At Stevens since 1968 • Research interests • Fluid dynamics • Differential equations • Perturbation methods • Department Head for 5 years • I am not a computer scientist Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Achieved Some Fame • Mathematician trading cards • http://www.bulletproof.org/math/default.asp • Larry Levine • http://golem.math.stevens-tech.edu/card/ Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Words of Caution • Lecture/teaching model still good • Technology will not put us out of business • Use technology only where appropriate • Can add new dimensions to the classroom • Can add new dimensions to student learning • Limitations of Technology • Do not force its use Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Some Uses of Technology as a Learning/Teaching Tool • Course Web Sites • Scientific Notebook • Teaching with computers • Teaching in a laptop classroom • Mathematical slide shows • Discovering things using technology Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Course Web Sites • All the important information about the course • Syllabus • Office Hours • Homework assignments • Lecture notes • Old Exams with solutions • Grades • http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/~llevine/ Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Web Site Cautions • Time considerations in creating a web site • Time considerations in maintaining a web site • Good support a must • Undergraduates or graduates • Clever, deal with technical aspects Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Scientific Notebook • Word processing package with Maple kernel • Very user friendly front end • Type no code • Clicks • Interfaces with Web Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Teaching with Computers • Present subject matter easily • Incorporate demonstrations in the lectures • Show students how to use software • Cautions • Must be easy to use • Requires a great deal of good support Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
The Case for Laptops I • Faculty must have laptops • PCs in classrooms not adequate • Prepare everything before on laptop • Should be able to come in, plug in laptop and teach • Ideally just a little more difficult than using chalk and a board Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Case for Laptops II • Computer labs expensive • Students bring lab to classroom • Incoming student has state of the art equipment • Really use technology while teaching • Opportunity for interaction with and engagement of students Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Teaching Linear Algebra in a Laptop ClassroomI • Linear algebra with computers • Students with networked laptops • Two classrooms in one • Laptop covers down – ordinary classroom • Laptop covers up – computer lab • No written work accepted • Download SNB notes • Present some material – laptops down! Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Teaching Linear Algebra in a Laptop ClassroomII • At appropriate points have students do exercises using SNB • These were homework problems to be turned in • Discuss problem under consideration • Project screens of students • Use this alternating format – lecture/computer Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Caveats About Teaching in a Laptop Classroom • Can do this only with small classes • 25 to 30 students • Perhaps 45 with an Assistant • Technology questions not simple • Faculty involved in design of classrooms • Requires great deal of support • Expect a good deal of frustration at the beginning • Ideally should be able to walk in, plug in laptop, turn on projector and teach Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Teaching Linear Algebra in a Laptop ClassroomIII • Teach mathematics behind the methods • Not just a course in clicking • Reducing matrices to echelon form • Exams • Two parts – written and computer • Upload computer part • Many technical issues!!! Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
MathematicalSlide Shows I • http://attila.stevens-tech.edu/~llevine/ • These use stream technology • How created • Power Point good for creating slides • Then can easily add narration • Real media add-on to converttoreal format • Power Point not good for writing math Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
MathematicalSlide Shows II • SNB is good for writing math • Power Point does not read tex files • Solution • Prepare math using SNB • Capture portions of file as graphics files • Important these graphics files into Power Point • Add narration, convert to real format Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Discovering Things Using Technology Polynomial solutions of DEs • Which equations have a polynomial solution? • Nonhomogeneous Hermite equation • Using SNB to investigate this • Extrapolate general results form specific cases Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work
Conclusions • The world is changing • Technology will become more prevalent • Students must be fluent with technology • Technology opens new horizons • Many approaches • Some good, some not so good • Try new approaches, identify good ones, develop them • No small challenge Using Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning Some Approaches That Work