SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Tuscaloosa Alabama Lighten Up

SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Tuscaloosa, Alabama Lighten Up! Annette G. Cook, Fellow AMATYC Project ACCCESS Cohort 5

Shelton State Community College Martin Campus C. A. Fredd Campus www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Higher Education Opportunities The University of Alabama Stillman College Shelton State Community College www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Tuscaloosa Industry Mercedes Benz Uniroyal Goodrich JVC America, Inc. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

ISSUE/PROBLEM • Classes can become too routine…”same old, same old”. • Students and teachers in math classes sometimes need something to keep things from getting too heavy. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

GOAL • Primary Goal: To keep class interesting so that the students are engaged. • Secondary Goal: To help students understand that math has a lighter side. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

What does research say? • Maslow defines humor and laughter as “education in a palatable form. ” • “What is learned with laughter is learned well. ” (Grotjahn) • “Laughter frees up and opens pathways to creativity and discovery. ” (Eble) http: //www. faculty. armstrong. edu/roundtable/4717458. pdf www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

What does research say? • “Humor…forces people’s minds into modes of thinking that are investigative, seeking, grasping, and filled with trial-anderror. ” http: //www. faculty. armstrong. edu/roundtable/4717458. pdf www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

What does research say? • Humor and laughter contribute to “enjoyment, interest, motivation, creativity, a relaxed, open, warm atmosphere, a positive student-teacher relationship, and reduced tension and anxiety. ” (Robins 0 n) http: //www. faculty. armstrong. edu/roundtable/4717458. pdf www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

What does research say? • “Using Humor in the College Classroom to Increase Teaching Effectiveness in ‘Dread Courses’” http: //findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m 0 FCR/is_3_33/ai_62839448/ • Dread courses are defined as those in which students have a lack of selfconfidence, perceived difficulty with material, or past negative experiences with content. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

What does research say? • “Humor is useful in facilitating attention and motivation (Bandes, 1988; Bryant et al. , 1979; Wandersee, 1982) and comprehension. ” (Gorham & Christophel, 1990) www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

What does research say? • Ice Breaker – Have students share their “Goofiest Moment in a Classroom” • List Teacher’s Top Ten Pet Peeves in the Classroom • List Student’s Top Ten Pet Peeves www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Top Ten Things More Fun than Stats Class 6. Having your computer crash on the last page of your research paper. 7. Listening to bagpipe music. 8. Trying to get across the river at 5: 00. 9. Watching "Barney" for 12 consecutive hours. 10. Having your wisdom teeth extracted. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Top Ten Things More Fun than Stats Class 1. Finding a parking spot on campus! 2. Being attacked by a roving pack of Rottweilers. 3. Waiting in line at fee payment. 4. Jogging at noon with a heat index of 112. 5. Having your paperwork lost at Financial Aid. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

To summarize the research… • “Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health. ” ~ Paul E. Mc. Ghee, Ph. D. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

How? • Add cartoons, jokes, riddles, and video clips to lessons. It’s easier than you think. – If using Power. Point, literally add them to your presentation. – If using an overhead projector, copy humor onto transparency. – If LED projector is available, save to jump drive and share. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

First Day of Class • The following clip is a great way to begin your semester. Let them know right away that using basic math operations is a prerequisite for the course. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Ma & Pa Kettle Math http: //video. google. com/videoplay? docid=4215496701990923822 www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Great for an early morning class www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

New Math? (a poem) A boy taught a girl arithmetic; he said it was his mission. He kissed her once, he kissed her twice and said, "Now that's addition. " In silent but sweet satisfaction, She gave the kisses back and said, "Now that's subtraction. “ (continued) www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

New Math? (a poem) Then he kissed her, and she kissed him, without an explanation. And both together smiled and said, “Now that's multiplication. " Then her Dad appeared upon the scene and made a quick decision. He kicked that boy three blocks away and said, "That's long division!" www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

“New Math” • Definition: The “idea” is what matters…not the actual calculations. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

“New Math” • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=SXx 2 VVSWDMo&feature=related www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Got a student who is habitually tardy? Use this one day just after he/she arrives. • “…so all you have to do, class, is remember what I just said and you’ll have no problems on the test. ” (similar cartoon also available) www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Fractions/Rationals • In the middle of a lesson about fractions or rational expressions, the following can be shown. It’s always fun to see how long it takes them to get it…if they ever do. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

“Systems” Song—Lyrics by Vicki Young Melody: "You Are My Sunshine” The other day, dear, as I was graphing, Instead of one line there were two! I was perplexed until I realized My teacher would tell me what to do. When you have two lines, it's called a system, And there are three outcomes you'll view: They're parallel lines or they're the same line Or they cross in one point that is true. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Before a lesson on rational roots, I show the following video clip as a review. • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=p. IRb 7 F 7 t. KEM www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Imaginary Numbers • Once rational numbers have been taught, the following cartoon can be shown the day after an introduction to imaginary numbers…again to see if they “get it”. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Catholic School • A couple has a son who is struggling in school, especially in math. They decide to enroll him in a catholic school and see if his grades improve. • He comes home everyday, goes straight to his room to do homework, and is very serious about his school work. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Catholic School • The son brings home his first report card from the catholic school and he has an “A” in MATH! • The father is, of course, pleased, but wants to know: "Why are your math grades suddenly so good? " www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Catholic School • "You know", the son explains, "when I walked into the classroom the first day, • and I saw that guy on the wall nailed to a plus sign, I knew one thing: This place means business!" www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Roots, Polygons, Integration… (one of my all-time favorites!) www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Excuses, excuses… www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Modeling Polynomials • Goliath, a hypercoaster, opened in 2006 at Six Flags over Georgia. It climbs to a height of 200 feet and reaches speeds of nearly 70 mph. It has over 4, 400 feet of steel track. Portions of Goliath’s tracks can be modeled with a polynomial function. • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ex 7 CJzmdv 8 www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Interpreting Graphs www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Interpreting Graphs www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Algebra’s Top Ten Mistakes • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=dh. VT b. Urr. MNo www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Another all-time favorite… • Four friends have been doing really well in their pre-calculus class: they have been getting top grades for their homework and on tests. So, when it was time for the final, they decide not to study on the weekend before the final, but to drive to a friend's birthday party in another city - even though the exam was scheduled for Monday morning. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Another all-time favorite… • As it happens, they drank too much at the party, and on Monday morning, they are all hung over and oversleep. When they finally arrive on campus, the exam is already over. • They go to the professor's office and offer him an explanation: www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Another all-time favorite… • "We went to our friend's birthday party, and when we were driving back home very early on Monday morning, we suddenly had a flat tire. We had no spare, and since we were driving on back roads, it took hours until we got help. " The professor nods sympathetically and says: "I see that it was not your fault. I will allow you to make up for the missed exam tomorrow morning. " www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Another all-time favorite… • When they arrive early on Tuesday morning, the students are put by the professor in a large lecture hall and are seated so far apart from each other that, even if they tried, they had no chance to cheat. The exam booklets are already in place, and confidently, the students start writing. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Another all-time favorite… • The first question - five points out of one hundred - is a simple exercise, and all four finish it within ten minutes. • As they complete the first problem and turn over the page of the exam booklet, they see the next question: www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Another all-time favorite… • Problem 2 (95 points out of 100): Which tire went flat? www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Mathmaticious Video • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=5 en. Juf. DEQ 0 www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Quadratic Formula Rap • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=d. Bt. Ue t. KJz. OU&feature=related www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

For Geometry/Trig www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

James Blount on Sesame Street Triangle Song • Great in Math for Elementary Teachers Class! • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=o 2 Z 6 t DSb 6 c 8&NR=1&feature=fvwp www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

for Trig class www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Funky Math Guy • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Qs 464 Dqn. PTo&feature=related www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Ever had one of those days… • You are working a long, hard, problem as an example and you have to concentrate… www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

For those golf players… www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

In Honor of Valentine’s Day… Math Pick Up Lines • “You are the solution to my homogeneous system of linear equations. ” • Your beauty defies real and complex analysis. • "I don't know if you're in my range, but I'd sure like to take you home to my domain. " • “i = Ø when i am not with you. ” • “Your beauty cannot be spanned by a finite basis of vectors. ” • “My love is like an exponential curve; it'swww. sheltonstate. edu unbounded. ” Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Top Ten Reasons for Not Turning in an Assignment 7. I accidentally divided by zero and my paper burst into flames! 8. I was watching the World Series and got tied up trying to prove that it converged. 9. I couldn't figure out whether I am the square of negative one or the square root of negative one. 10. I could only get arbitrarily close to my textbook. I couldn't actually reach it. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Top Ten Reasons for Not Turning in an Assignment 3. I didn't want the other students in class to look bad. 4. I was abducted by green-skinned, three-eyed, pig-snouted space aliens, and they incinerated my paper with their death rays. 5. Another student fell in a lake and I jumped in to rescue him. Unfortunately, my paper drowned. 6. I made a paper plane out of it and it got hijacked. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Top Ten Reasons for Not Turning in an Assignment 1. I have a solar powered calculator and it was cloudy. And the number one reason for not turning in an assignment is… 2. My roommate used it as a dryer sheet. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

This is good for the day when graded tests are returned. www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Scene from Numbers TV Show • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v. FRTg r 7 Mf. Ww www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

For your own copy of what’s been shared… • Email Annette… acook@sheltonstate. edu www. sheltonstate. edu Tuscaloosa, Alabama

SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Lighten Up! Annette G. Cook acook@sheltonstate. edu