Getting to know you

(Blog submission number 1)

(10 points)

Learning objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to do the following…

• Recognize, observe, formulate, and understand mathematical connections in everyday life
• Thoughtfully apply mathematical concepts to real world situations  
• Recognize evidence of the many mathematical concepts that are at work in real life situations  
• Analyze, think critically about, and demonstrate a meaningful understanding of mathematical concepts by effectively communicating their thinking and reasoning for their solutions and mathematical connections to real world situations (in other words, rather than simply knowing how to solve any particular problem, students should be able to explain how they to come to a particular solution and explain why it is correct)
• Apply general strategies to more than one type of problem  
• Comfortably and effectively utilize a variety of strategies to solve any given mathematical problem 

Background:

A couple of the primary focuses for this class greatly center on your ability to effectively communicate mathematical ideas and to collaborate with members in your classroom community.  As a result, for this class, you will be required to create and maintain a mathematics blog.  The purpose of this blog will be for you to gain experience effectively communicating your mathematics understanding as well as collaborating with your members of your classroom community about mathematical concepts.  Some submissions will require that you respond critically to topics in class, from lecture, or from textbook readings.  Some submissions will require that you do research on a topic related to concepts discussed in class, elaborate on them, explain them in real world language, and apply them to real world situations.  

You will be required to submit six blog entries.  In addition to submitting your own work, you will be required to make thoughtful comments on posts from members in your learning community. Your submissions will be graded using a rubric with categories for creativity, problem solving, thoughtful reflections, insightful comments, etc.    

In many classes, especially math classes, learning is rarely extended beyond the hour and fifteen minutes of lecture time.  Hence, another purpose for this blog is to help prevent a stagnant learning environment and support and encourage learning beyond the classroom walls.  My goal is for you to become a part of a community of learners…learning, teaching, and supporting one another, as well as developing the skills you need for your own learning.

Directions:

Part a:

1. Once you receive an invite from me, go to the following url http://findingfunctionality3.blogspot.com/and subscribe to the class blog.
2. Once you have created your profile, answer the following questions and post them to the class blog.  (you may number your answers, answer the questions in narrative form, I’m not going to be picky for your 1^st submission)
3. Students who submit the questionnaire by 11:59pm, Monday, January 13, will receive two extra credit points added to the first quiz.  (you may number your answers if you like or answer the questions in narrative form… whatever you prefer.)
4. The purpose of this questionnaire is to get to know you a little bit better and also to learn things that can assist in guiding my instruction of the class this semester.  Thank you! 

Questions:

1. What is your full name?

Camila Augspurg

1. Do you have a nickname that you prefer to go by?

Cami

1. What is your height in inches?

5’ 5”

1. What is your age in years?

18

1. What time do you generally wake up on any given day?

10 am

1. What is your favorite candy?

Crunch

1. What is your favorite snack food?

Grapes

1. Who is your favorite musical artist/band?

Alt - J

1. Do you have any hobbies/things you like to do for fun?

Listening to music, watching shows and movies, spending time with friends and family

1. What is your mathematical background? (Not limited to the list below…list other topics if needed)

Precalc Honors and Calculus

1. Which mathematical concepts in this class do you think you may struggle with/what are your math weaknesses/fears?

Word problems

What is your comfort level with any of the following algebraic topics? 

Write one of the following next to each topic:

Very comfortable (V) comfortable (C)     uncomfortable (U) extremely uncomfortable (E)

Equations C

Factoring V

Adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing fractions/rational expressions C

Simplifying expressions V

Operations on roots and fractional exponent expressions U

Operations involving whole number exponent expressions U

Finding common denominators V

Inequalities C

Functions C

Absolute value V

Linear functions U

Systems of equations C

Domain and range V

Inverse functions U

Transformations (shifting, scaling, stretching, etc) C

Quadratic functions C

Completing the square C

Exponential functions C

Logarithmic functions V

Base e U

Graphing V

Trigonometric concepts C

1. Which mathematical concepts covered in this class do you think you will excel in/what are your strengths/where are you confident?

1. Which social media formats are you familiar with? 

Texting facebook pinterest flickr wordpress blogspot tumblr twitter google plus

1. Which social media formats do you use most frequently?

Texting facebook pinterest Instagram

1. What is your major?

Graphic Design

1. Why are you taking this math class?

Required

1. Will you take other math classes in the future at American University or will this be your only math class? If yes, which classes will you take?

Yes, I am thinking in having a double major with Marketing, so any mathclass that is required. 

1. What do you hope to learn in this class?
2. Is there anything else you would like me to know about you?

Part b:

1. After completing your blog entry, comment on at least two of your classmates blog submissions (you are free to comment on more than two posts if you like).