Personalized MyMathLab Homework for Exam Review

This week my online elementary algebra class came in to take their pencil & paper midterm. The exam is very traditional, covering linear equations, graphing lines & their equations, and systems of 2 equations. The scores were, quite frankly, outstanding. Of the 34 students who took the exam, 25 passed including 18 A's.

To help my student's prepare, I used MyMathLab's personalized homework feature. First I created a 25 question quiz. Then I created a 75 question homework assignment, including 3 problems for each objective covered on the quiz. Finally I linked the two assignments.

Students take the quiz once, and that loads the personalized homework assignment. For each question answered correctly on the quiz, students received credit for the 3 associated problems. The only questions that remained on the homework assignment are problems that they missed on the quiz. So, students only review problems they struggled with. After finishing the homework, they can then go back and retake the quiz to prove mastery.

If you have not used this feature, I have a video that explains the process.
http://youtu.be/J4hdpHYdVWM

New Videos on YouTube for Intermediate Algebra

Last night, in a blaze of glory, I uploaded several videos related to solving quadratic equations to my YouTube account. Topics include completing the square, extracting square roots, quadratic formula, u-substitutions, and the Pythagorean theorem. I not only walk through examples in the videos, I give advice on determining the most efficient way to solve a given equation.

You can see them all on my YouTube channel: George Woodbury's YouTube Channel
- George

Intro Stats - Counting Activity

This semester, whenever possible, I have been trying to incorporate the flipped classroom in all of my courses. A couple of weeks back I used an activity that I was quite pleased with. It covered counting principles in introductory statistics, namely the multiplication principle, permutations, and combinations. Without having covered any of the material in class, I assigned my students to watch a short video I created on the subject. I placed the video on YouTube. Here it is.



There was also a short assignment that students had to complete before returning to class the next day. Here are the 5 questions.
1) An ice cream store has 31 flavors of ice cream and 3 types of cones. In how many different ways could you order a single-scoop ice cream cone? (1 flavor, 1 type of cone)
2) Which is the correct answer to the following problem: 10P2 or 10C2? A softball league has 10 teams in it. In how many different ways could the teams finish first and second?
3) Which is the correct answer to the following problem: 19P3 or 19C3? Bruce Springsteen has released 19 CDs. In how many different ways could a fan select 3 of his CDs to bring on a road trip? Compute the following.
4) 11P3
5) 8C5
6) What is the major difference between a permutation problem and a combination problem?

Students were told that there would be a quiz the next day, and they could use only their assignment as a resource. The quiz was a group quiz (my classes are made up of groups of 4 students), and there was a "battle" between pairs of groups that sis next to each other. The winners of each battle earned the right to drop 1 homework score for the semester. Here is a copy of the quiz, which I displayed on a screen using PowerPoint.

1.       What color ink did I use to write on the PowerPoint slides?

2.       A class has 40 students. The instructor randomly selects 3 students.
The first wins a $20 gift certificate, the second wins a new calculator, and the third wins a new eraser.
In how many different ways can the instructor choose the 3 students?

3.       Faculty passwords in Banner are made up of 4 digits (0 – 9).
How many different passwords are possible?

4.       The math department has 16 faculty.
In how many different ways can the Dean select 3 instructors to attend a conference?

5.       Compute: 12C5.

6.       Compute: 9P4.

7.       License plates in Rhode Island have 2 letters followed by 3 digits.
Neither letter can be I or O.
No digit can be used more than once.
How many different license plates are possible?

8.       What are the 3 conditions that tell us a problem calls for the use of combinations?

9.       Make up a problem whose solution is 6 x 4 = 24.

10.   Fifteen patients sign up to participate in a trial for a new medication.
In how many different ways can the doctor select 6 of the patients to receive a placebo?

Bonus Question: What was the address of the web site mentioned at the end of the video for students who needed extra help? 

The groups got 1 minute for each of the first 4 problems, and 2 minutes for each of the last 6 problems. The first question was to break the tension, and we had a good laugh when I told them later that the correct answer was "Skittles Red". The bonus question only counted in case of a tie after the first 10 questions.

I was really happy with the results. There was a lot of great discussion within the groups, and I feel that they truly understood what hey were doing. (They went on to do really well on the counting problems on the probability exam.)

- George

If you have questions or comments, please leave a comment on this blog or reach me through the contact page on my website: georgewoodbury.com