Job Opportunity: Adjunct Math Professor (Olympia, WA)

Saw this ad and thought you all might be interested: Adjunct Math Professor (Olympia, WA). I know as much as the ad says, and am not affiliated with the poster. Good luck! via craigslist seattle | education/teaching jobs search "math" at November 30, 2012 at 12:19PM

My Late Fall Teaching Load

Starting on December 8th, I'll be teaching a remedial online Mathematics class at my home institution for 9 weeks. I've taught this course, and similar face-to-face, courses before, and am looking to improve upon a few resources. 

For this course I provide Khan Academy videos, and suggest questions in the site's practice sets. I don't grade their activity on the site (although I could using the site's Coach role) but believe that this kind low-stakes practice, with feedback and additional resources if necessary, helps students to develop their understanding of the mathematical concepts involved. While instructors and professors might see graded formative assessments as just formative assessments, students may interpret them as summative assessments, and be discouraged if they perform poorly. And really, I wouldn't want to take a test on a section I've just read. I doubt students want to do the same.

For all online courses I provide weekly introduction videos using screen-capture software, that review the materials, resources, and activities for the week. In the past these have just been videos of the LMS, but this term I'll be including a picture-in-picture of my webcam. I'm hoping that this will further develop my presence in the course, and make me seem more available to students. 

Will post weekly updates of the course and how it is progressing.

Job Opportunity: Adult Resilience Education Manager (Seattle, WA)

Saw this ad and thought you all might be interested: Adult Resilience Education Manager (Seattle, WA). I know as much as the ad says, and am not affiliated with the poster. Good luck! via craigslist seattle | all jobs search "instructional design" at November 27, 2012 at 05:42PM

Job Opportunity: Subject Matter Experts in Math and Science

Saw this ad in the Austin Craigslist for Subject Matter Experts in Math and Science. Not sure what company posted it, but it seems they're looking for quite a few people. I know as much as the ad says, and am not affiliated with them.

Good luck!

From RSS feeds: on moocs

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on moocs

by dnorman

on November 25, 2012 at 05:03PM

From RSS feeds: Podcast: MOOCs: The Coming Revolution?

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Podcast: MOOCs: The Coming Revolution?

by gbayne

on November 24, 2012 at 07:48PM

From RSS feeds: Podcast: When Learning Analytics Meet Big Data: The PAR Framework

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Podcast: When Learning Analytics Meet Big Data: The PAR Framework

by gbayne

on November 24, 2012 at 07:34PM

From RSS feeds: Podcast: Using Predictive Analytics to Improve Student Success

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Podcast: Using Predictive Analytics to Improve Student Success

by gbayne

on November 24, 2012 at 07:07PM

From RSS feeds: Podcast: Student Success at Scale: What Have We Learned from Applying Technology to Persistent Challenges?

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Podcast: Student Success at Scale: What Have We Learned from Applying Technology to Persistent Challenges?

by gbayne

on November 24, 2012 at 06:31PM

If you haven't read Stephen Downes' blog you should. It's an excellent read of education, technology, and their intersection, and cuts through these issues with reason and a sensible perspective.

Stephen's Web

From RSS feeds: Open Textbook Challenge [Infographic]

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Open Textbook Challenge [Infographic]

by Gerry McKiernan

on November 20, 2012 at 08:43PM

From RSS feeds: Debate Club: What Are the Roles of the MOOC in Higher Education?

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Debate Club: What Are the Roles of the MOOC in Higher Education?

by drupal

on November 21, 2012 at 01:03PM

From RSS feeds: MOOCs on Campus: Experiences from the Front Lines

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MOOCs on Campus: Experiences from the Front Lines

by drupal

on November 20, 2012 at 03:32PM

From RSS feeds: University looks to combat textbook prices through contracts with bookstore vendors

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University looks to combat textbook prices through contracts with bookstore vendors

by Steve Kolowich

on November 21, 2012 at 03:00AM

From RSS feeds: 10 Highly Selective Colleges Form Consortium to Offer Online Courses

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10 Highly Selective Colleges Form Consortium to Offer Online Courses

by (author unknown)

on November 16, 2012 at 09:03AM

From RSS feeds: U of All People gets into MOOC madness (essay)

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U of All People gets into MOOC madness (essay)

by David Galef

on November 20, 2012 at 03:00AM

From RSS feeds: Uncertainty Abounds as MOOCs Move Toward Credit

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Uncertainty Abounds as MOOCs Move Toward Credit

by cmaadmin

on November 19, 2012 at 10:46PM

From RSS feeds: Podcast #5: Coursera Debrief

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Podcast #5: Coursera Debrief

by rdpeng

on November 19, 2012 at 10:00AM

From RSS feeds: Why Tech Training for Faculty is a Waste of Time

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Why Tech Training for Faculty is a Waste of Time

by (author unknown)

on November 16, 2012 at 07:29AM

From RSS feeds: Sunday Data/Statistics Link Roundup (11/18/12)

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Sunday Data/Statistics Link Roundup (11/18/12)

by leekgroup

on November 18, 2012 at 09:54AM

From RSS feeds: Curriculum Writer (anywhere)

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Curriculum Writer (anywhere)

by (author unknown)

on November 18, 2012 at 12:03AM

From RSS feeds: Review: Nintendo Wii U

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Review: Nintendo Wii U

by JC Fletcher

on November 18, 2012 at 12:02AM

From RSS feeds: Manipulate Word 2007 Math Equations (windows) to be updated to Word 20

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Manipulate Word 2007 Math Equations (windows) to be updated to Word 20

by (author unknown)

on November 17, 2012 at 09:30PM

From RSS feeds: Writers for High School Math/Science Textbooks

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Writers for High School Math/Science Textbooks

by (author unknown)

on November 17, 2012 at 11:48AM

From RSS feeds: MoMath Integrator (Volunteer) (Flatiron)

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MoMath Integrator (Volunteer) (Flatiron)

by (author unknown)

on November 16, 2012 at 04:59PM

From RSS feeds: Supporting Students: Academic Planning, Progress, and Learning Analytics

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Supporting Students: Academic Planning, Progress, and Learning Analytics

by drupal

on November 16, 2012 at 05:03PM

MOOC Experience: Computing for Data Analysis at Coursera

A few weeks ago, I completed Coursera's Computing for Data Analysis 5 week course, and thought I'd offer my thoughts on the course. I've shared some of them on the Sloan Consortium's LinkedIn group, but thought I'd clean them up a bit for a blog post. The professor for the course, Richard Eng, posted his thoughts on the course on his Simply Statistics blog.

• The course focused on using the R statistical software package, something I've had a passing familiarity with, but not a working knowledge of. As a result, I was in a good position to take this course. In addition, I have a few projects that require large amounts of statistical analysis, so I was highly motivated to learn the material.
• I really liked that videos that covered new concepts were relatively short (< 7 min.) while videos demonstrating how to use technology were longer (< 15 min.) This chunking of the content, with emphasis on modeling behaviors, helped me to pace myself and quickly demonstrated the commands I was to use.
• The programming assignments provided natural transference of the materials covered in the video lectures, to actually using them, and my understanding of them. The course also provided a numbers of ways, means, and resources to problem solve on your own. Having done a little bit of programming in other languages, I understood that finding solutions on your own is an important part of creating code. On the other hand, some students did complain that there wasn't enough 'instruction'.
• The programming assignments were decent, but I wish there was a way for students to compare full solutions. From discussion forums, it seemed that students used one set of functions (apply and its derivatives), while I didn't.
• I did find a few students in discussion forums that I regularly discussed assignments with, through the course website. I did not participate with the Meetups, as not having enough time to participate in them. If it were a longer course, with more in-depth assignments, I would probably do so.

I'm currently 'taking' Computation Investing, Part I, but am not participating in the assignments. I'm signed up for a few other Coursera courses, but they don't start until next year. They are; Data Analysis, Fundamentals of Online Education: Planning and Application, Passion Driven Statistics, The Science of Gastronomy, and Machine Learning.

From RSS feeds: Vivian Norris: Narcissists and Children of Narcissists: Yes It Is Getting Worse!

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Vivian Norris: Narcissists and Children of Narcissists: Yes It Is Getting Worse!

by Vivian Norris

on November 16, 2012 at 12:13PM

From RSS feeds: The Biggest Problems with Each Cloud Storage Service (and How to Fix Them)

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The Biggest Problems with Each Cloud Storage Service (and How to Fix Them)

by Melanie Pinola

on November 16, 2012 at 12:00PM

From RSS feeds: Math Geek Mom: Thanksgiving

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Math Geek Mom: Thanksgiving

by Rosemarie Emanuele

on November 16, 2012 at 08:24AM

From RSS feeds: Oregon Public Universities Set Record for Graduates

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Oregon Public Universities Set Record for Graduates

by cmaadmin

on November 14, 2012 at 10:50PM

Subject Matter Experts, Math and Science (Columbus)

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November 15, 2012 at 09:51PM

Subject Matter Experts, Math and Science (Columbus)

http://columbus.craigslist.org/wrg/3412928132.html

by (author unknown)

The Year of the MOOC

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November 03, 2012 at 01:06PM

The Year of the MOOC

http://simplystatistics.org/post/34909562751/the-year-of-the-mooc

by rdpeng

Duke, Northwestern to Offer Semester Online Classes

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November 15, 2012 at 11:44AM

Duke, Northwestern to Offer Semester Online Classes

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/education/duke-northwestern-to-offer-semester-online-classes.html

by By HANNAH SELIGSON

When is a MOOC not a MOOC?

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November 15, 2012 at 07:58AM

When is a MOOC not a MOOC?

http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=59466

by (author unknown)

The Choice Blog: Should MOOCs Be Eligible for College Credit?

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November 14, 2012 at 01:15PM

The Choice Blog: Should MOOCs Be Eligible for College Credit?

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/mooc-college-credit/

by By TANYA ABRAMS

MOOCs for college credit?

Washington Post http://m.washingtonpost.com/local/education/exploring-credits-for-free-online-courses/2012/11/13/ccdcbac8-2d8f-11e2-89d4-040c9330702a_story.html?wprss=rss_education

How to Board a Plane Quicker Using Math

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November 13, 2012 at 09:10AM

How to Board a Plane Quicker Using Math

http://gizmodo.com/5960082/how-to-board-a-plane-quicker-using-math

by Jamie Condliffe

Some Thoughts on Teaching R to 50,000 Students

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November 12, 2012 at 10:01AM

Some Thoughts on Teaching R to 50,000 Students

http://simplystatistics.org/post/35563800852/some-thoughts-on-teaching-r-to-50-000-students

by rdpeng

Sexist or Silly?

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November 12, 2012 at 04:46AM

Sexist or Silly?

http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=59450

by (author unknown)

Footprints of Emergence

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November 09, 2012 at 01:38PM

Footprints of Emergence

http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=59440

by (author unknown)

RE: on MOOCs as the most important Education Technology in the last 200 years.

I would have to agree. MOOCs seem to be an important tool for the next few decades, but the most important in the last 200 years? Give me a break.

From D'Arcy Norman's longer post:

on MOOCs as the most important Education Technology in the last 200 years.:
Bull. Shit.