Donald Kraska

Watching online Archive

I teach Algebra online, and many students [older ones, especially] think they just can't understand Algebra. They have been through it before. So I try to change that outlook.

The online chat is recorded and archived for the students who don't attend the live chat. So I always listen to part of the archive to see how it sounds [no video - just mike]. I look for technical improvements needed such as changes in volume and distortion, and background noise.

Then I listen to my speaking style, to monitor how effectively I am speaking. Students like to know I'm human, so every class [NOT intentionally!] I make at least one mistake while solving problems writing on the powerpoint slides. When this happens, I do not try to move on, but instead, make a big point of the error, how it happened and how to correct it. I especially like it if a student corrects me before I realize there is an error! I commend that student. I point out that its very easy to make mistakes [see, here is one!] and that they have to be careful as they solve a problem, and they have to check their work for correctness after the fact.

Watching the archive helps me "tune" my speaking style so that students want to hear what I have to say, and want to learn. Attitude and drive are the prime motivators to learn. I try to make the classroom attitude positive and enjoyable. Then I can explain the Algebra and techniques to a student who thinks that maybe they can understand it finally!