I'm very interested in mathematical pedagogy, and especially in the following question: does the first-year course in mathematics have to be an unpleasant and meaningless experience for the majority of students? This is not a rhetorical question. Many people think the answer is "yes". However, many smart people are working hard to argue that the answer can be "no." Below are some links I find useful, as well as some comments of my own.
Some notes on my teaching at Princeton.
Remarks on various techniques I've used in my classes here.
Lecture notes, syllabi, and tests from previous semesters.
David
Carlton's teaching page.
David Carlton is an assistant professor of mathematics at
Stanford, one of my best friends, and an excellent and thoughtful
teacher. Read and learn from his experience.
Richard
Felder's web page.
Richard Felder and Rebecca Brent are engineers at North Carolina
State who go around the country giving seminars on effective teaching
in the sciences. Felder's page has a wealth of useful and specific
advice.
Alfie Kohn's web page
Kohn's book Punished by Rewardshas many interesting things to say
about how testing and grading should be done (and when they should
not be done.) His views on pedagogy are well-supported and
gallantly argued, whether or not you agree with him that capitalism
should be smashed.
Back to Jordan Ellenberg's home page