Engaging our Math Students

1. Engaging our Math Students CCCOnline Math Department Webinar Friday, May 17, 2013 10 – 11:30 am

2. On the first day and every time they enter the course… using the News Tool • Welcome announcement: Try a short video introduction • Include a photo of yourself • Post regular updates (weekly or more often) • Schedule news items at different days/times • Open with different greetings, colors, pictures • Keep news items short and sweet • Include fun stuff – math jokes, videos, links, cool tools, etc. (example, link to “how to travel to alternate universes”)

3. One on one… via Email • Welcome email • Once roster is added to course, email students’ CCCS email addresses using instructors CCCS email • Students’ CCCS email found in Faculty Gateway in Online Roster • First week email • Another welcome and reminder of upcoming assignments • Great time to offer help to the students • Check-in emails • If referring to grades or assignments, please use the BCC when sending to a group of students • QA does not have access to emails. • Important to communicate with students in the Discussions along with email. • MML email • Gradebook • More Gradebook Tools drop down • Search/Email by Criteria • Overall Score – Category Averages – Assignment Performance – Work Activity – Name • Students see only their own email address in the To: • Copy of email sent to instructor’s CCCS email.

4. In the “classroom”… via Discussions • This is the PRIMARY place where students become engaged. • Our challenge: MML has decreased students’ motivation to discuss math problems in discussions. How do we keep discussions meaningful for our students? • Start with Introductions: • Try a video introduction, • Suggest a Skype meet-n-greet • Other interactive strategies – Google hang-out http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/ • General Strategies: • Best Practices CCCOnline - Discussion Rubrics - CCCOnline Faculty Wiki • Sample Postings Discussion Examples • Require staggered postings and replies to each other.

5. Still in the Discussions… the Sequel • Math Examples: • Post multiple prompts: “Here are a few ‘trickier’ exam items you will see in the upcoming exam. These have stumped students in the past. Can you think of strategies for approaching one or more of these problems?” • Re-engage: “Yes, I agree with your process here, but are there other techniques you can use? Did anyone try something different?” • Encourage deeper thinking: “I agree with your answer, but why do you think this technique works? How is it similar to other techniques you’ve learned to this point?” • Interactivity!!! Homemade story problems – what twists on this activity can we implement? • Group projects: Components of upcoming 050 and 055 curricula. Let’s try some sooner! • Other Sources of Support: • FAQ discussion – always open • General discussion – for off-topic conversations, past unit questions

6. What, more on Discussions? • Tools: • ScribLink (Scriblink) • Notability (example) • EduCreations (Click here to view my lesson) • InkSurvey (MAT 203) • Graphing Calculator Apps: http://wcet.wiche.edu/learn/mobile-app • Jing: http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html • Resources on Effective Discussion Facilitation: • Please see the links at the end of the presentation.

7. Through practice and mastery… aka Homework, Quizzes and Exams! • Homework strategies: Require homework at regular, frequent intervals (2-3 times per week). Post homework problems in Discussions for review. • Quiz strategies: Require shorter quizzes more frequently. Reduce time limits so that students need to master content first (use statistics as a guide). • Exam strategies: Schedule exam deadlines during timeframes in which you are available to answer questions. Reduce time limits to encourage student mastery. Post “tricky” exam problems in Discussions – either before as a teaser or in a Review Discussion after exam has closed.

8. In something Extra… Extra Credit • Promote creativity • Create an educational video • How a math concept is used in ‘real life’ • Explaining the process of a math problem • Report on a Mathematician • Interesting math facts • Promote interactivity • Interview a classmate • Application of math concepts in their daily life or work place

9. Strategies for Dev Ed Students • Emotional Support System • Talk to students about • Short and Long term goals • Test and Math anxiety • Provide them with resources on helping manage it • How they are doing • Using all the home college has to offer • Advisor • Counselor • Build a relationship with your students • Peer Support • Online study forums • Skype • Facebook • Intellectual Support System • Online Tutoring Lab (OTL) • NetTutor • Home college tutoring center • Instructor

10. Q & A! • Grade Sync – to use or not to use? • What strategies have worked in your classrooms? • What tools have you used that increase engagement? • What techniques do you use with a class that JUST… WON’T…. PARTICIPATE? • What else?

11. Resource Closet • Tools: • ScribLink: www.scriblink.com • EduCreations: www.educreations.com • Jing: http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html • Notability: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/notability-take-notes-annotate/id360593530?mt=8 • Graphing Calculator Apps: http://wcet.wiche.edu/learn/mobile-app • Skype: www.skype.com • Google Hangouts: http://www.google.com/hangouts/ • Digital Whiteboard Apps (thanks, Nicole Ellison, from Regis!): https://www.diigo.com/user/marciszn/whiteboard

12. Resource Closet, the sequel • Helpful links (thanks again to Nicole from Regis!): • Crafting Questions for Online Discussions: http://ets.tlt.psu.edu/learningdesign/crafting_question • Generating and Facilitating Effective Online Discussions: http://tep.uoregon.edu/technology/blackboard/docs/discussionboard.pdf • Mastering Online Discussion Facilitation: http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-onlinelearning-mastering-online-discussion-board-facilitation.pdf • Reinventing Online Discussions: http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr00/reinventing.aspx