Friday, June 26, 2009

So Long ...

We had our graduation exercises today. A gentle push into the world for all of you. I hope you're leaving with the keys to your future in your hand.

I'm so glad we've had this time together,

Just to have a laugh or learn some math,

Seems we've just got started and before you know it,

Comes the time we have to say, "So Long!"


So long everybody!

Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu, and all those good bye things. ;-)

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Class Survey

The exam is over and we did a little survey in class. The results are below; 17 students participated. If you'd like to add another comment on what you see here email me or leave a comment below this post.

Without any further ado, here are the results of our class's survey. Please share your thoughts by commenting (anonymously if you wish) below .....

Classroom Environment
The questions in this section were ranked using this 5 point scale:

Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree
12345


The bold numbers after each item are the average ratings given by the entire class.

1. The teacher was enthusiastic about teaching the course. 4.59

2. The teacher made students feel welcome in seeking help in/outside of class. 4.35

3. My interest in math has increased because of this course. 3.35

4. Students were encouraged to ask questions and were given meaningful answers. 4.29

5. The teacher enhanced the class through the use of humour. 4.24

6. Course materials were well understood and explained clearly by the teacher. 4.18

7. Graded materials fairly represented student understanding and effort. 4.12

8. The teacher showed a genuine interest in individual students. 4.12

9. I have learned something that I consider valuable. 4.47

10. The teacher normally came to class well prepared. 4.65

Overall Impression of the Course
The questions in this section were ranked using this 5 point scale:

Very PoorPoorAverageGoodVery Good
12345


1. Compared with other high school courses I have taken, I would say this course was: 4.06

2. Compared with other high school teachers I have had, I would say this teacher is: 4.12

3. As an overall rating, I would say this teacher is: 4.35

Course Characteristics

1. Course difficulty, compared to other high school courses:

Very Easy
0%
Easy
5.9%
Average
35.9%
Difficult
52.9%
Very Difficult
5.9%


2. Course workload, compared to other high school courses:

Very Easy
0%
Easy
17.6%
Average
58.8%
Difficult
11.8%
Very Difficult
11.8%


3. Hours per week required outside of class:

0 to 2
29.4%
2 to 3
35.3%
3 to 5
17.6%
5 to 7
17.6%
over 7
0%


4. Expected grade in the course:

F
0%
D
11.8%
C
52.9%
B
29.4%
A
5.9%


Specific Feedback
[Ed. Note: Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of students that gave the same answer.]

What was your best learning experience in this course?

Learning many things on my calculator
Developing Expert Voices Project
Group Work (5)
Class Discussions
Sharing Ideas
Made learning easier and fun
Solo in-class work
SMARTboard
Technology
Pre-Tests
I could listen better
Personal Finance Unit (3)
Probability Unit (2)
Helping each other
Being able to sit not taking notes because they would be online
Able to learn from students as well as teacher as if it were feedback on my mistakes
Being encouraged to contribute to the learning environment


What was your worst learning experience in this course?

Blogging (3)
None (2)
Blog was sometimes unsteady because notes needed to be written when scribe didn't post
Not having Mr. K. in class
Probability Unit (2)
When I didn't get anything
Vectors Unit (4)
Statistics Unit (2)
Sequences Unit
Periodic Functions Unit (2)
When one student wasted time arguing
Using technology in assignments
Being expected to work hard, few teachers care — I appreciated this "negative" experience


What changes would you suggest to improve the way this course is taught?

Have more students at front showing work to get more ideas and feedback from peers
I think this course was taught great and really enjoyed the online work
A little more explanation in every topic
Less online homework
I suppose maybe look at how you can help individuals do better. Most do better in groups or by talking. I can't learn like that so this class sucked for me.
Nothing really, I thought this course was great and fun; thanks for teaching us.
Any suggestions I have would only make the course pander to laziness.
Watch if the scribe was done on time.
State that reflection posts and delcious links are both done, not one or the other, more clearly.
Try to teach slower, sometimes you go through lessons way too fast for me to understand.
This has been the only math class I've done well and felt confident in both at the same time. Thanks Mr. K!


It's interesting to compare the items that were considered both the worst and best learning experiences. Also, take a look at the list of worst learning experiences compared to suggestions for next year. Help me do a better job next year by commenting on what you see here ....

Friday, June 5, 2009

Today's Slides: June 5

Here they are ...



Thursday, June 4, 2009

My D.E.V. Project

Question #1
George wants to invest $10,000 into an account. He has two options, the first bank offers to invest it at a 7.2% rate for 7 years. His second option from another bank is to invest it at a 9% rate but for only for five years. He wants to know which investment will give him more money after the time is up. Which investment will give more and by how much?George then plans to invest his money a second time at a 12% rate for two years. What will be George's final amount of money in both scenarios? All of Goerge's investments are compounded yearly

Option # 1

N=7
I%=7.2

PV=-10000
PMT=0
FV=16269.09883
P/Y=1
C/Y=1
PMT: END BEGIN

Option #2

N=5
I%=9
PV=-10000
PMT=0
FV=15386.23955
P/Y=1
C/Y=1

PMT: END BEGIN


The first option will give him more by $882.86 (16269.09883-15386.23955)


WHY & HOW

The numbers in "N", "I%" and "PV" come directly from the information in the question.
"P/Y and C/Y" are 1 because the money is compounded yearly and not semi annually or quarterly. Semi annually is compounded twice a year. Quarterly is compounded four times a year.

The second Investment

#1

N=2
I%=12
PV=-16269.09883
PMT=0
FV=19300.49889
P/Y=1
C/Y=1

PMT: END BEGIN


George's final amount will be $19300.50 in scenario one.


#2

N=2
I%=12

PV=-15386.23955
PMT=0
FV=20407.95757
P/Y=1
C/Y=1
PMT: END BEGIN



George's final amount will be $20407.96 in scenario two.


Question #2

When you walk home from the big bridge there is a pizza place and a chicken place. Calculate the total amount of ways home. The P(passing the pizza place), P(passing pizza and chicken place).

There are 336 ways home

The P(passing pizza place) is 38.7%(130/336)

The P(passing pizza & chicken place) is 32.7% (110/336)

Click here to see WHY? & HOW?

Today's Slides: June 4

Here they are ...



Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Niwatori-san's Corner (Sequences)

Anyong-hi jumuseyo


!!!!For Ya Imfomation. . . . . . !!!!!!

Blue
anecdotes sorta inportant
Red anecdotes Stuff to check/IMPORTANT STUFF take it however you will
Green is for formulas/any calculator stuff!

Remember that your projects are due the midnight of Sunday. So make sure to get it in quite
soon!

Well Getting back to the topic of Sequences the main topic tonite is FRACTALS!


You remember the "Trippy" show of the fractal of the island
(ok i don't remember the name of the island

off my head) yes well like in class how it was discussed that the fractal can be
divided into similar shapes

by dividing the whole shape into subsequent pieces equal to one another.


**** When looking at a fractal such things can follow through your head like:

* Will this fractal diverge/converge? (grow/come to one point)
* What's the area of the shaded areas? (If asked this question)
* What's the implicit and recursive definitions of this fractal
(the "exponential equation" and the
"general definition" through means of finding a common ratio between the
2nd and the 1st numbers in a geometric sequence)


And so forth.... (im sure there are more but for now this is all i can
manage to pull out of my hat
sorry I couldn't
pull a bunny rabbit but better luck next time =p)


All is done through a number of series of "careful" observation and analysis of
the fractal
finding the pattern to the piece. Or more rather the point of it all.

Well right now you can see that the slides haven't been posted yet so
don't be blaming Mr.Kuros if it didn't sink in
to your minds to what
was done in class. And sorry if I sounded rude but it's how blunt i need
to be for the understanding
of the course.


All in all my good mates around the world watching us and to my fellow
bloggettes/student peers
"Math is the Science of Patterns" - Mr . Kuros

Follow looking for similar paths along your way in life and in the progression
of your studies/classes.
The more patterns you have the more easier it is for
you to solve the mysteries of your own "CASE"



And Im yet again sorry folks but I totally forgot to inform about the solving
of the "Shaded Areas"
I was sorta stuck between the path to finding
the shaded area and it's a little sketchy about the details
but Im sure Ill
get it right away and clear this passage just for your info *pinky promise*


Anywho this ends the night until another day and another time.
Niwatori-san signing off -__-



GO AND SCRIBE CUZ I CHOOSE YOU ----"Daniel"----
*throws pokeball misses and then walks away* (
utter defeat)


quote from Niwatori-san -
"The sun is the open pinnacle to enlightenment by revealing the shadows
of your talents"






Today's Slides: June 3

Here they are ...



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