SallieGray+Clayton+Artifact

=**Developing a Student-Centered Precalculus Classroom (the short version)**=

__**Introduction:**__ The Precalculus classroom at AGS follows a very traditional classroom model: students review homework problems, take notes on new topics, and then work on problems that are very similar to the examples in their notes. Although this isn't a terrible way to teach, students sometimes seem bored, uninspired, and become accustomed to being told how to problem solve as opposed to actually learning to problem solve.

__**Goal:**__ The goal for the year was to use web tools and group work to differentiate instruction and learning in the Precalculus classroom.

__**The Before and After:**__ At the beginning of the year, much of class time was spent teacher-centered. 35 to 45 minutes of class was dedicated to note-taking and copying examples from the white board. While students were asked to participate and ask questions, class was very traditional and uninspiring. Now if you walk into my classroom, you usually don't see students constantly taking notes and copying problems. Instead, they are working together to solve problems in teams, and these problems help lay the groundwork for the topic of study. I still teach at the board, but only in 5 to 10 minute intervals a couple of times per class. Students are more engaged and are really working to utilize their critical thinking skills.

__**Want to Know More?**__ If you'd like to read more about my 21st century journey, the tools that I tried out this year, and what my students think, please visit my [|blog].