Re: [seul-edu] Math teachers...

[Emilio Gerardo Milian <egmilian@gene.com>]

As a teacher of over 22 years, I don't agree 100% regarding seeing the
back of students heads.
I want to see their face and I want them to see me. Of course I'm
teaching adults not teen-agers.
If you are dealing with teen-agers perhaps you do want to see their
screens.
This is something that bugs me, because at school we have the room set
up facing away from the teacher.
But if you go to professional seminars and adult classes, you will see
that the students face the teacher, not away from the teacher. So I have
to go to the back of the room so I can see the students faces and ask
questions to each of them.  Sorry but you hit my "button" and I had to
respond with my opinion.


Regarding the Linuxworld schedule, I will let you know later.

Emilio



lp wrote:
> 
> ...  yet another continuation!
> 
> Other Issues
> ------------
> 
> 12. Be sensitive to the fact that students may be at different levels
> of experience with their use of computers.
> 
> Simplify the interface as much as possible for inexperienced students.
> (The same goes for training for teachers - many teachers are still
> very unsure about how to use computers.)
> 
> This means stay away from full-blown desktops as your only option.
> You want to spend your time teaching math concepts, and not getting
> rid of 20 versions of a browser that has opened up on the desktop.
> Linux is very useful regarding this. You can use tcl/tk, for instance,
> to create a menu bar with just just the buttons you want them to click
> on. Windows is the worst. I've had students give up in tears after
> spending 20 minutes trying to get rid of that stupid paper clip guy.
> 
> 13. Pay attention to the classroom setup. Ideally, you want to be
> able to see what everyone is doing. If possible, arrange the seats
> so that when you have something to say, everyone must turn away
> from the screen to listen to you. Try not to have the blackboards
> facing the same way as the computer screens.
> 
> Whew. I'm sure I've left some things out ...
> Sorry this thing got so long - this message just kept splintering
> and I didn't know where to break it.
> 
> L. Prevett
> Mathematics Instructor
> Cochise College, Sieera Vista, AZ
> prevettl@cochise.cc.az.us