Using Technology as a Teaching/Learning Tool

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Using Technology as a Teaching/Learning Tool

• Lawrence E. Levine
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• US Military Academy,West Point
• llevine_at_stevens-tech.edu
• http//attila.stevens-tech.edu/llevine/
• http//attila.stevens-tech.edu/llevine/Boston_syl
  labus.doc

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Levines Technology Theorem

• Everything works either at home or in my office,
  and nothing works when I present it.

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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

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Achieved Some Fame

• Mathematician trading cards
• http//www.bulletproof.org/math/default.asp
• Larry Levine
• http//golem.math.stevens-tech.edu/fletch/card/

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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

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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

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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/

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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

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Scientific Notebook

• Word processing package with Maple kernel
• Very user friendly front end
• Type no code
• Clicks
• Interfaces with Web

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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

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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

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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

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Teaching Linear Algebra in a Laptop Classroom I

• 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!

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Teaching Linear Algebra in a Laptop Classroom II

• 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

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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

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Teaching Linear Algebra in a Laptop Classroom III

• 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!!!

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Mathematical Slide 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 convert to real format
• Power Point not good for writing math

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Mathematical Slide 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

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Discovering Things Using Technology

• Teaching the Method of Series Solution
• Polynomial solutions of DEs
• Which equations have a polynomial solution?
• Perturbing the DE
• Using SNB to investigate this

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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