Report 5

Visit to Scottsdale Community College

       September 27, 2002

 

 

Sally Jacobs – Ph.D. in Math Education

            Talked about students having many personal difficulties

            Started in industry and then switched to teaching at MCC, then SCC

            Evolve in Learning, Diverse Population, Instructional Techniques

 

James Vicich – Ph.D. in Math Education

            Problem Solving

            Oral Presentations – Making sense of what students are learning

            Learning and teaching of mathematics

 

Ted Coe and Mark Burch – Working on Ph.D’s in Math Education at ASU

            High Standards at SCC

            Class Sizes of 25-30

 

Teri Glaess – Teacher first, math subject second

            Can get grants and do research at this level if wish, but no pressure

Attended conference and people there know about relationship between ASU and SCC

 

Donna Guhse – Suggests you look at the schedule of classes at MCCC

            Students have the opportunity to learn what they didn’t earlier in life

            Returning students are fun!!!

 

Judy Lambert -  Teach arithmetic to Post-Calculus

            Often feel like you do community service and social work

            Get to know the students

            Rewarding to get to know the students over time and watch them grow

 

Connie Carruthers – Each department (and school) posts their own jobs

            The posting describes the job and then resumes get sent to the school

            Budget problems hiring people right now

            For outside prospects:

1.     Expect Papers to be Screened

2.     Interview 5 or 6 people over the phone or personally

3.     Microteach

4.     Send Dean 2 names with their suggestion for hiring the one they like best (Who they ask for they always get)

GOOD HIRING PROCESS

 

John Losse – Adjunct for Fall (started in 1975), retiring

            Come back as ½ time

 

Things to think about for  preparing for a job…

1.     How will I be assigned classes?

2.     Different questions asked for different schools.  Look at job descriptions and understand the culture of each school

3.     Get hired as adjunct to get a better “feel” for the school

4.     Talk to people in the department to get a good idea

5.     Adopt a mentor and have them take a look at resume and cover letter

6.     research college!!!

7.     look at the books in the bookstore

8.     syllabi, tests, exams, etc…

 

Structure of Teaching Position at SCC

 

            5 years then appointment (like tenure)

            First three years someone sits in for evaluation

            Faculty Advancement Plan

            30-32 hours and committee assignment

            In charge of the course, but common final exam

            7 years and then a sabbatical

                        1st year 100%

                        2nd year 75%

            No pecking order for classes

 

Project Ideas

 

Ted- Evaluations (Pre- and Post-Tests)

            Teaches Intro-Algebra, College Algebra, and Pre-Calculus

 

Donna- 1 exam for probability and statistics (like MAT 114)

            Grade after they take the exam

            Geometer’s Sketchpad

 

Sally- Maple Labs for Calculus Classes

 

John – Calculus 2 Maple Labs

 

Mark- Differential Equations Pilot Study

Help teaching and learning DE, analyze classroom episodes, run camera, give inputs and make adjustments