About me
Robert Sarwacinski
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Discussion Comment
To cultivating a students mind I use several forms of professional teaching etiquette. By necessity, modeling, mentoring, and monitoring are required.
As an mathematics adjunct faculty member, if I didn't model, mentor, and monitor students, I believe students evaluations would have eventually force me to pursue a career that didn't require human interaction (i.e. theoretical research).
If you have a passion for what you teach, and you want your students to have the same passion, modeling, mentoring, and monitoring are prerequisite skills.
What do you think?
Discussion Comment
I like to use the modern day version of the Socratic method of instruction. It's called the Columbo Technique.
1. I get the student engaged with casual questions regarding the example I'm demonstrating.
2. When the student finally relaxes, I have them explain what I did.
3. Before I move on, I ask them on last thing: What's the answer used for? That's how I lead into the next chapter of the text book.
Any other Columbo's out there?
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I don't have a problem reaching Gen Y with a White Board, Colored Pens, Handouts, Scientific Calculator, and a good teaching strategy.
Am I doing something wrong?
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I don't believe that having access to more technology guarantees greater knowledge.
There's an enormous amount of fragmented information, opinions, misleading information, ill-informed fantasies, and hyperreality on the internet.
On the other hand, access to good information does equal power. You just have to know how, where, and when to find it.
Any thoughts?
Discussion Comment
There appears to be no limit to the number of technological tools you can purchase these days. However, I believe there is a limit to the number of technical tools you can master. If you don't set limits, I say "The more you own, the more you're owned." When you're spending most of your time learning how to format, configure, operate, backup, update, protect, and maintain the technological gadgets and software programs you own, the only thing your prepared for is the "Help Desk." True wisdom requires the application of differentiation, integration and generalization via contemplation. For example, Rene Descartes… >>>
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What does it take to be a Self-directed Learner?
My thoughts:
- Believe in yourself
- Compare yourself to your potential
- Seek wisdom for the rest of your life
- Embrace change
- Choose your friends wisely
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Every professional knows that the price of excellence is planning. I believe preparation and planning are more important in teaching than in any other profession.
I view a lesson plan as a program of action, procedure, and content arrangement. I evaluate every lesson plan I use and I don't consider any lesson plan immune to to my thinking up ways of improving it.
Discussion Comment
As an instructor, I'm professional obligated to do more of what works for my students, and less of what doesn't. I've found that many concepts in Algebra can be better understood using image analysis techniques (pattern recognition) and strategies. For example, I teach algebraic factoring by using a factoring strategy student handout. The factoring strategy sequence begins with greatest common factor patterns, followed by binomial patterns, trinomial patterns, factor by grouping patterns, and finally the quadratic equation pattern. The factoring strategy handout is used to identify a pattern, understand the associated factoring strategy, and understand the patterns relationship and difference… >>>
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