Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id iAJMvI125554; Fri, 19 Nov 2004 17:57:18 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 17:57:18 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <B3A69BC2-3A7D-11D9-B497-00039381D39E@comcast.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: David Rosen <djrosen@comcast.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1176] Re: division PowerPoint X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.553) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; delsp=yes; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Status: O Content-Length: 2102 Lines: 49 Thanks Mary Lou. I took a look at the instruction and was disappointed. I don't think it is well designed or appropriate for adults: 1. The strategy -- remember the steps with a memory device based on members of the "family" -- might work if your family is nuclear, white and heterosexual, but this set of slides just perpetuates stereotypes about American families. Not many of the students I have taught would relate to that picture of family. 2. The graphic style might be appropriate for elementary school children, but not particularly for adults. 3. The slides emphasize operations only. They don't put long division in a context that adults could understand as meaningful. 4. I saw no evidence that this approach encourages math thinking, only how to follow long division operations rules. 5. You shouldn't use these slides unless you have permission and the last slide says "Copying of this software must be approved by Monica Yuskaitis, Walter White Elementary, CUSD. This software may only be used in Ceres Unified School District." I have taken the trouble to raise all these points knowing full well that it _is_ important to pass the GED, and that knowledge of long division _is_ required and that adult learners _do_ need to master the operations. But I think we must have higher expectations and standards, especially as the GED is an economically useless credential for most of those who earn it unless it they go on for post-secondary education, which requires knowledge of mathematical thinking. David J. Rosen djrosen@comcast.net On Friday, November 19, 2004, at 05:24 PM, Mary Lou Friedline wrote: > I do apologize that the link didn't work, and I haven't figured why it > didn't in my message. After doing a google search for the author, > Monica > Yuskaitis, I found this site. > > http://www.lexington1.net/technology/techresource/tis/integration/ > powerpoint.htm > > Mary Lou Friedline > Adult Education Instructor > PIC of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. > Greensburg, PA 15601 > 724-537-3631 Ext. 21 > friedlin@comcast.net >
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