Most likely you are working with one or more people at your school. We call these groups.
Groups are a learning tool. Nothign more, nothing less.
One of the most fundemental concepts in CROSU is using your many resources as you see fit. Your group is a resource.
Unfortunately, the group resource seems to be one of the most misused and misunderstood.
The reason groups are misused is because students apply this resource to a nonexistant goal.
Remember, the goal in this course is to learn calculus. The goal is not to accumulate points. This
is where the confusion begins.
Students are not stupid. They are very good at deciphering what is really going on and then taking
their best route to achieve the goal. It is very common for the goal of a mathematics course to be collecting
points. Applying groups to that goal usually manifests as an agreement to distribute the homework
questions, work on them individually, and then reconvene to build the homework assignment.
Not a bad plan really. The trouble in this course is that the goal is not accumulating points.
Agreements as described above actually have the nasty effect of moving students further away from
the real goal of learning the math.
By distributing the questions, you necessarily ensure that everyone will miss a good part of the lesson.
It is impossible to get any kind of understanding of math by restricting your focus to a fraction of the material.
Just doesn't work. Instead, each person should use the group to help with their own personal understanding.
The group is there to help teach. The group is there to help learn. The group is not there to produce
final documents for submission in the shortest time. There is a lot of learning responsibility placed on
your shoulders in this course. Groups is a big part of that.
Advice: We've been doing this for a long time. Avoiding particpation bites back very quickly.
Get your mind right. Use groups to help YOU think and communicate daily about YOUR math thoughts. Groups
are a fantastic learning tool.
Once groups are made (by you), students will spend each day in class working with their group creating
solutions to homework questions. Everyone does their share. Your share may be asking questions.
No one should expect to do all the typing or none of the typing. No one sits in the back seat.
Everyone drives.
These are groups, not marriages. If people in the group are unhappy then we rearrange, dump dead weight, and
find a situation where each person can learn. Keep Lee informed,
(privately over email if the student wishes). Together Lee and the
students will decide how and when groups re-form. It is Lee's job to make sure every student is in the
best position possible in order to learn.
So if a group is not working out, expect Lee to pay you a visit.
If a student does not show up, does not work on group assignments, tries to do everything
unilaterally, tries to do all or none of the typing, is not contributing to discussion, or
whatever, let Lee know. Lee will talk with the student (everyone
deserves a chance to join the party).
If we can't play nicely, then Lee is very good at operating on groups.
DO NOT SPLIT UP HOMEWORK.
Lee does not look favorably on this...at all.
The idea goes like this: If students work on and discuss every problem together,
then each student will learn everything he or she is supposed to. If students split stuff up,
students will have blind spots. Students are a team, working together and learning together.
It is not neccessary to all be together to work on the group assignment...just be sure to include
everyone in the discussion.
Duh! That doesn't mean that you HAVE to all be present and officially call the group to order
before you are allowed to think about math. You should be thinking about math on your own, at home, with the
textbook, whatever. Then when you are with your group you will be prepared to help others as well as
yourself. The great thing about the textbook is that it is portable. You can also get Mathematica for
your home computer. As an OSU student you can get a very cheap license. Then you can work at homework also.
SUMMARY
Do not split and glue the assignments.
Students do not have to all be together to work on a GIAT; however, students are all expected to
work on every problem, and discuss each problem with the group.
Take (daily) turns typing the answers. It seems silly, but students really do get a better understanding
when they personally interact with Mathematica or the hotline, and everyone deserves the opportunity.
Please let Lee know if a group is not working out. Lee
must be consulted before groups are changed. We are working together, remember?
