Jon Oaks

Category: Uncategorized

  • Using Virtual Tools to Solve Real-World Problems

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    Jon Oaks
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    I recently saw this video come up in my Twitter Feed.  It is about a group of teenagers who are working on a project for Abbott Labs, and the story of their teacher who realizes that after working on this Real-World Problem, that the students will never be able to learn the same way ever…

  • Percent Increase and Decrease

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    Here’s a sample lesson on Percent Increase and Decrease designed for a 52-minute Pre-Algebra class. 1.  Start by watching the video on ‘Percent Increase’.  Make sure that students have the handout so that they don’t have to write down the application problem. 2.  Have students work on the two ‘Group Work’ problems on percent increase.…

  • This Calculus Game Needs a Sweet Name… Any Suggestions?

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    I just finished this new Calculus game in anticipation of teaching a lesson on The First Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.  I’m looking to give it a good name.  Any suggestions? Calculus Game.pdf Download this file Jing Video and notes to accompany my lesson: http://content.screencast.com/users/Mallwalker52/folders/Jing/media/54f7800c-0820-4d28-ab22-63c3ca0ae758/jingswfplayer.swf View on screencast.com » Intergal_Video.pdf Download this file Jing Video and notes…

  • Solving a System of Equations with Two Unknowns

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    A Sample Lesson on Solving a System of Equations with Two Unknowns Before you begin, you may want to print the summary sheet below for reference.  The sheet happens to have a major typo, but I think that it’s usually fun for the students to discover it themselves. I’ve been generous enough to correct the typo.…

  • Could We Have an Open Dialogue About Race?

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    Let’s face it.  I’m Asian.  I could definitely play the race card, but I don’t.  Because I don’t want to.  I don’t think that it’s the right thing to do.  I want to believe that it is dedication, hard work, and passion for what I do that is what will get me to where I…

  • More Student Feedback.

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    Jon Oaks
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    I'm really happy to report that this is ALL of the student feedback from my Saturday class that recently ended: "Although I did not understand a lot of the material, the instructor was very informative and acted as if he had he students in his best interest." "Jon is a great instructor.  He really takes…

  • Encouragement for Any Teachers Out There…

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    I know it can be tough out there!  I just finished two of the worst semesters I have ever had back-to-back.  The students constantly had attitude problems and my supervisors scolded me for telling the students that their attitude was unacceptable for the classroom.  Well, I just received the first good news I have gotten…

  • Pi Day Exponent Activity

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    This year on Pi Day I was teaching exponents, so I created an activity surrounding many of the common errors that I see many students make when working with expressions involving exponents.  I have attached the file to this post, and I would hope that people would know what to do with it, but let…

  • I Use Matrices in Everyday Life, Do You?

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    I am teaching a Finite Math class this semester and the majority of students in the class are business majors.  I’m trying to make the class as relevant to them as possible, so I’ve been reading magazines such as INC, and Entrepreneur to try to get ideas for things that I can talk about in class.…