Math 8 F07 Walton
Possibilities for Extra Credit
Here are several opportunities to earn extra credit for your grade in this class. It would be added to your total semester score before calculation of your letter grade. Each possible activity may earn up to 4% extra credit depending on the quality of your work. Your total extra credit for the semester cannot exceed 10%.
All work for extra credit must be handed in by the last regular class meeting, Monday December 10.
1) Attend the lecture described in the attached flyer (Thursday September 20, 10:30am – 12 noon, Sorenson Hall SE2-104).
2) Take written notes.
3) Write and type a 3 – 5 page paper that summarizes the content of the lecture and any audience questions. Also include your own thoughtful evaluation of the good and bad features of the presentation.
4) Turn in both your original notes and your completed paper before the end of class on Wednesday October 3.
This assignment can be done on
a computer in the Mission College Computer Lab (upstairs in
The assignment requires an exploration of material on the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Teaching website ( MERLOT - a national collaborative project of many college and university systems). You will visit several mathematics resources and write an evaluation of them. You will then post them online.
What do you have to do?
1) Read the MERLOT home page at: http://www.merlot.org/
2) Watch the Tour – click on the link at the top left of the home page
3) Next follow the link from the home page to the Mathematics discipline community – or go directly to: http://mathematics.merlot.org/ Explore this material.
4) Follow the link to browse learning materials or go directly to: http://www.merlot.org/merlot/materials.htm?community=3022
5) Explore several of the links to math learning material by checking out the actual website and by reading some peer reviews and some user comments on the MERLOT page. Be careful not to leave the Math area.
6) Write your own thoughtful member comments that include answers to all of the following:
a. How did you review the materials (Did you spend 5 minutes browsing, 2 hours trying it, or actually use it in teaching-learning activities? – describe what you did).
b. Evaluate the quality of content (Does the material accurately present concepts and models that are educationally significant? – explain why)
c. Evaluate the potential effectiveness for enhancing teaching and learning (If used appropriately, will students' learning and faculty's teaching be enhanced? – explain why)
d. Evaluate the ease of using the materials (Will first time users find it easy to use the software? – explain why)
What do you have to turn in to me for your grade?
IF YOU HAVE AN E_MAIL
ADDRESS
1) Become a student member of MERLOT – click on the "Become a member Today" link on the MERLOT home page or go to: http://www.merlot.org/merlot/join.htm
MERLOT will email you a password.
2) Write member comments (see 6 above ) on THREE different links on the math listings.
3) Post those member comments on the MERLOT site.
a. Log in as a member with your password
b. Go to the detail page of the link you have reviewed
c. Click "Add" beside member comments
d. Fill out the form and submit it online
4) Turn in to Ian the names of the learning material pages where you have posted member comments – I will go online and read them
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN E_MAIL ADDRESS
1) Write member comments on FOUR different links from the math listings.
2) Turn the complete comments in to Ian in class.
Research, write and hand in a 3 – 5 page typewritten paper that describes real life applications of some of the mathematics techniques that you have learned in this class. Explain how it is used in your work or in one of your other classes. Include real examples. Explain what it is that the math allows you to do that could not be done without the math. Include citation references to any reference material that you use in preparation of your paper.