WWU mathematics professors recently shared tips and strategies with educators in the North Pacific Union Conference. Two specific teaching approaches shared are standards-based grading and the flipped classroom model.
Standards-based grading allows students multiple attempts to reach the required standard on an assignment. The student’s final grade is then calculated by how many course objectives were mastered rather than by traditional exam points.
In the flipped classroom model, students spend class time working homework problems in a group with the professor present to answer questions. Students prepare for class by watching assigned videos about the topic and reading the textbook.
“While these approaches are not necessarily cutting edge, they are different from what happens in a traditional mathematics classroom at the college level,” says Jonathan Duncan, WWU Department of Mathematics and Department of Computer Science chair. “We want students to receive the help they need when they need it instead of a one-size-fits-all lecture followed by an exam whether the students are ready or not.”
The goal is always to create student-centered learning processes. “Educators in multiple fields are pursuing more active learning strategies and adjusting their teaching to accommodate a new generation of students that is more diverse in academic backgrounds and learning styles,” explains Duncan.
To learn more about strategies for effectively teaching math, email Jonathan Duncan.
