Videos on Multiplying Fractions

By Jon OaksApr 24, 2011
A couple of students in my on-line classes have been asking questions about multiplying fractions.  Should you simplify before or after multiplying?  How should you simplify?  By cross-canceling directly, or by a prime factorization and cross-canceling combo?  Here are some videos I have made to help clarify the situation. View on screencast.com » View on screencast.com » View on screencast.com »
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Percent Increase and Decrease

By Jon OaksMar 27, 2011
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. 3.  Follow the same process for 'Percent Decrease'. 4.  Have the students do the Percent Increase and Decrease 'Matching Activity'.  You need to have the tiles cut apart for them already.  If there is not enough time to complete this in class (There usually isn't),…
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This Calculus Game Needs a Sweet Name… Any Suggestions?

By Jon OaksMar 27, 2011
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: View on screencast.com » Intergal_Video.pdf Download this file Jing Video and notes for the Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus: View on screencast.com » The_Second_Fundamental_Theorem_of_Calculus.pdf Download this file Group_Work_Problems.pdf Download this file
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Solving a System of Equations with Two Unknowns

By Jon OaksMar 25, 2011
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. SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS Start out by watching this introductory video about solving an application problem using the addition method.  I recommend printing out the handout of what is covered in the video so that you can take notes as you follow along. View on screencast.com »…
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10 Potentially Helpful Resources

By Jon OaksJan 17, 2011
Here is the most recent set of helpful resources that I have sort of stumbled upon out of well over 200 hundred that I've looked at today: 1.  Broad Texter - This is a service that allows you to create a group so that your students can join so that they can receive text messages from you.  In fact, I've set up one for my students that I hope to use in the near future.  Feel free to sign up at the top of the page if you're so inclined. 2.  Smart Teaching Blog - My biggest advice when looking at…
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Using Jing in the On-line Classroom

By Jon OaksJan 06, 2011
I just started facilitating my first on-line course ever this week.  I say facilitate, because I really don't believe that I'm actually teaching the students anything in the traditional sense.  In fact, they are actually learning through reading the textbook, discussion forums on ANGEL, and MathZone.  However, since this is my first experience with MathZone, I don't actually have very many tips to give the students, as I am learning the quirks of the platform along with them.  One of them is the way that the student must enter the multiplication symbol.  I think that this tutorial that I made…
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