0) Have you submitted responses for weeks 5 through 13? (This is the minimum requirement for satisfactory completion of the course. Folders should be complete by Sunday May 5 at midnight.)
YES
1) How has your view of yourself in relationship to mathematics changed over the course of the semester?
I am a concentrator in business economics and organizational behavioral management which does involve some math mostly of the statistical nature. I have certainly learned a lot of geometry during the course of the semester. I have always considered myself to be a mathematically thinking person. I frequently quantify things in ordinary conversation. I think that I have learned to think about the shape of space more and my perspective on that space.
2) For you, what are the most positive and the most negative aspects of the course? Would you suggest any major changes in structure or emphasis?
The best parts of the course were the computer generated geometric models of different figures. I was not really thrilled with the overall format of assignments in the course. I felt that responding to the chapters was not really the best way to integrate an understanding of the material. However, I am sure that it was necessary to ensure that the book was read and that things were learned over the course of the semester.
3) Comment at length on the concept of the paperless course. What are the advantages or disadvantages of this approach? In what ways could such an approach work in other courses?
The advantage of this approach is that it forces the student to familiarize oneself with html and the workings of the network. I had trouble with this at first, but I am glad that I did it. The disadvantages of this are that it assumes that all students have ready access to a computer, which in my case is not true. The CIT is very crowded and a lot of time can be wasted waiting for a terminal to open up.
4) Comment on your experiences with the technology used in the course. What can be done to make things easier in the future?
I am grateful that I learned how to use HTML a little and also the network. It would have benn easier if we had one or two classes in the computer lab for instruction.
5) Describe your experience with the weekly assignments and the "response from Prof. B." feature. Comment on the public nature of these interchanges, and the possibility of linkings among student work and communication with the other class members. To what extent did you read the submissions of other students (and/or the professor's responses)?
I found it difficult to get weekly assignments in some times due to several reasons. These were as follows: my inability to get a computer, the web was down, and my very busy schedule. I read all of the Prof. B. comments, and I enjoyed reading all of them. I never read anyone else's work due to the fact that I am very busy ansd I probably heard most of their comments in class. I am not modest so the public nature of my writngs has no effect on me.
6) Describe in some detail your activities as part of your final project team.
I was originally told that I was responsible for the mythological background of labyrinths. It turned out to be quite a bit more, however. I ended up taking over the history part of the project, and I combined it with mythology. This was by far my favorite part of the course. I did many hours of research at the library and many more hours of reading for this, and I enjoyed all of it. Our group did not interact too much, but we seemed to get everything taken care of somehow.
7) In the old days, the final project was mostly an individual effort, on the order of a ten-page paper. How would you characterize the experience of working on a team, and how did that affect your effort in the final project?
Working as a team was vital to me for this project for I never would have been able to handle the technical side of the project. Working as a team did not affect my effort because I am used to playing team sports as I play both water polo and golf here at Brown. I did not think that I did as much work as a ten-page paper, however.