A Really Neat Blog on Teaching Math

I've been following a blog from Michigan mathematician who is teaching at Muskegon Community College. She is working on her dissertation on the use of technology in teaching mathematics. As someone with an intelligent classroom who is slightly perplexed about how to use that for precalculus, I'm finding some interesting ideas from her.

http://teachingcollegemath.com/

Janet

And What Do We Do With PreCalculus

It looks like I'll be teaching precal again next year as well as statistics. For statistics I think we've pretty well integrated the computers in the intelligent classroom. At least we've got a good start at it and we'll add more activities next year.

But what about precalculus? Can we use the computers to help the kids get precalculus down faster/better/more thoroughly? I don't have any answers right now on that one. I still believe in pencil and paper, grind it out, show the steps. And I don't see a place for the virtual manipulative things in precal - it is supposed to be abstract. If it were concrete stuff, it would be plain old algebra.

On the other hand -
- maybe I can set up some sort of lesson with winplot and changing the variables in a sine wave equation. Winplot is easier to get stuff to show up then on the calculator - although we need to do the two together.

- maybe I could finally learn geometer's sketchpad and use it for the trig stuff. A good way to do solving triangles would be helpful.

- could I use the computer for drill on the unit circle - set up something where the kids go in and enter answers on the circle.

- could I use moodle to manage the class - and maybe post the notes (except that my notes are idiosycratic at best and I'd hate to have to rewrite them in tidier form).

So guess what I get to do on my summer vacation.