17
Making proofs click Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses Robert Talbert, Grand Valley State University Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moto/

Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

[Presentation given at the AMS/MAA Joint Meetings, Boston, MA on 1/4/2012.]Transition-to-proof courses, designed to prepare students from calculus and other lower-level courses for the methodologyof upper-level mathematics, are often dicult for students in several ways. Students who are used to purely algorithmicapproaches to mathematics experience culture shock at the more open-ended and uncertain mathematical world that suchcourses introduce. The elements of communication and writing often play a much larger role in these courses than inearlier ones. And generally, these courses signal a major change in the way students conceive of the study of mathematics,which can make further study of mathematics stressfully forbidding.Technology can help students make this transition. In particular, classroom response systems, or "clickers", openup the classroom to a range of pedagogical approaches that can help students learn mathematical abstraction andgood mathematical writing practice. In this talk, we discuss some instances of clicker-enabled pedagogy in the author'sCommunicating in Mathematics class, including peer instruction, and peer review of writing samples.

Citation preview

Page 1: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Making proofs clickClassroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Robert Talbert, Grand Valley State UniversityImage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moto/

Page 2: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Calculus 1

Calculus 2

TRANSITION TO PROOF

Linear algebra Modern algebra Geometry

High school math

Page 3: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Calculus 1

Calculus 2

TRANSITION TO PROOF

Linear algebra Modern algebra Geometry

High school math

Page 4: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

7.) Question 7Responses

(percent) (count)Answer 1 4% 1Answer 2 48% 12Answer 3 48% 12

Totals 100% 25

7.) Question 7Responses

(percent) (count)Answer 1 4% 1Answer 2 48% 12Answer 3 48% 12

Totals 100% 25

Page 5: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Peer InstructionBefore class: Information

transfer

Multiple choice question on

essential concept

Individual thinking w/ no interaction

(1 min)

Significant differences?

Yes 1st vote

NO

Instructor minilecture to set up

concept(5-8 min)

VOTE

Pair off, convince others you're right

(2 min)

Instructor-facilitated discussion

Yes2nd vote

Instructor debrief via minilecture

(< 5 min)

Repeat with the next essential

concept

= Active student engagement

Page 6: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Using peer instruction to teach proof by contradiction

Essential concepts for the lesson:

If the negation of a statement is false, the statement is true.

The negation of a conditional statement is a disjunction.

The beginning of a proof by contradiction is to assume the negation of the statement to prove.

The end of a proof by contradiction is to arrive at an absurdity, thereby showing the negation of the original statement is false.

Page 7: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

To prove P → Q by contradiction, the first step is

(A) Assume P

(B) Assume Q

(C) Assume ¬Q

(D) Assume P ∧ ¬Q

(E) I don’t know

Page 8: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

!""#$%&'& !""#$%&(& !""#$%&)*+,&(-&

!""#$%&'&.*/&)*+,&(-&

0%12%"3& 4& 5& 6& 7&

5&3&4&8&9&:&;&<&6&7&

35&

!"#$%

&'()'*+,-%

.+*'

/('0&(1%'2'34'5'$6'7(.+&8-97:(.;'+<%'=&*+'*+%0'9*>>>'?@9&*+'1(+%A''

Page 9: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

!""#$%&'& !""#$%&(& !""#$%&)*+,&(-&

!""#$%&'&.*/&)*+,&(-&

0%12%"3& 4& 4& 3& 35&

4&

6&

7&

5&

8&

34&

36&

37&

35&

38&

!"#$%

&'()'*+,-%

.+*'

/('0&(1%'2'34'5'$6'7(.+&8-97:(.;'+<%'=&*+'*+%0'9*>>>'?@%7(.-'1(+%A''

(2 students lose attendance credit for the day...)

Page 10: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

“Confessions of a converted lecturer”Peer Instruction: A

User’s Manual

Page 11: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Clicker-aided peer review of writing samples

Criterion Descriptors

Mathematical correctness

Correct calculations; correct statement & application of definitions

Logical soundness All steps shown and justified; conclusions follow standard rules of logic and are correct; counterexamples are valid

Written clarityAssumptions are explicit and clear; argument has a

discernible flow; correct grammar and spelling used; writing guidelines followed

Write in groupsRead/rate

individually w/o interaction

Vote, discuss, suggest

improvements

Page 12: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses
Page 13: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses
Page 14: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses
Page 15: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses
Page 16: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses
Page 17: Making proofs click: Classroom response systems in transition-to-proof courses

Slides: http://slidesha.re/uO30Xz

Twitter: @RobertTalbert

Blog: http://chronicle.com/

blognetwork/castingoutnines

Email: [email protected]

THANK YOU