tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post1477198519724196345..comments2024-01-03T04:58:04.221-05:00Comments on I Hope This Old Train Breaks Down...: What just MIGHT be (for me) the Secret of Teaching LogarithmsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-77027091195035053922016-05-25T16:40:11.194-04:002016-05-25T16:40:11.194-04:00That second 2 means base 2. That second 2 means base 2. untilnextstophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285583728476473117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-63520337396039470912016-05-25T10:28:09.738-04:002016-05-25T10:28:09.738-04:002^log2(k) = k: is the second 2 in this equation in...2^log2(k) = k: is the second 2 in this equation intended to be the base of the log? Or does it mean taking the common log of 2K?<br />Thanks<br />bluonbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16276812937881802288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-49989139046174648952016-02-23T17:09:13.566-05:002016-02-23T17:09:13.566-05:00Hi! I totally agree about needing to get the defin...Hi! I totally agree about needing to get the definition completely automatic. It takes way too much working memory to make sense of the problems otherwise!<br /><br />In my search for teaching techniques, I came across this unconventional method that I think is pretty cool, and I'm about to use it with my online students. http://www.people.vcu.edu/~rhammack/reprints/MathTeacher.pdf<br />What do you think?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08823400961489292584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-175080396744780652015-08-24T19:51:44.778-04:002015-08-24T19:51:44.778-04:00Hi Susan, sorry but I think the newsreaders is the...Hi Susan, sorry but I think the newsreaders is the best way. You can also bookmark the page and check back? (Sorry I can't be more helpful in this! I don't do an email subscription thing...)untilnextstophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285583728476473117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-63551709463322196332015-06-13T17:46:45.033-04:002015-06-13T17:46:45.033-04:00I came across this blog via Bon@MathFour above pos...I came across this blog via Bon@MathFour above posting about this specific blog on logarithms on facebook. I am interested in following this blog but don't use one of the listed newsreaders. Can you assist me in following your blog?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440253584204449148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-6401751476540203592015-06-03T13:21:27.344-04:002015-06-03T13:21:27.344-04:00I always used log_a x = y MEANS a^y = x (and color...I always used log_a x = y MEANS a^y = x (and color code the letters). I'm thinking the method you're using might be better. <br /><br />I'm giving a talk at CAMT 2015 (this year - I'm a bit late reading this post) on teaching logs and exponents. I'm glad I found this - I'll use it (with attribution, of course!).<br /><br />~BonBon @MathFourhttp://mathfour.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-33164983232690112502013-03-31T19:07:37.044-04:002013-03-31T19:07:37.044-04:00Thank you so much for sharing this method! I taug...Thank you so much for sharing this method! I taught logs to my Algebra 2 class two weeks ago using your definition approach, and I was shocked at how easily all the students were able to understand the concept. This has definitely helped to make me a better teacher. :)Chrissie Fickenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14572209718971237135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-43351996064510675562012-12-13T18:21:11.534-05:002012-12-13T18:21:11.534-05:00PS. Hi! Sorry, I'm tired but I am not usually ...PS. Hi! Sorry, I'm tired but I am not usually this rude. I am always excited to have new readers. :) :) Especially when they leave me messages so I know that they exist!!untilnextstophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285583728476473117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-19878100159591814552012-12-13T18:20:10.699-05:002012-12-13T18:20:10.699-05:00I did make the connection that log is an inverse o...I did make the connection that log is an inverse operation. I didn't go into the functional nature because we're going on Christmas break after one more class session. I think the right way to introduce that is AFTER the kids are comfortable with the idea of log and exponents being inverse operations, to give them a few exponential functions, ask them to find the inverse functions, and let them discover the pattern that it will always end up being a log function (and vice versa). The functional nature of log is more complex, and so it makes more sense to come later as a general wrapup, I think.<br /><br />But, don't worry, Katie... I have taught logs at least 4 or 5 times already and this is the only time I haven't felt like it's totally muddy afterwards for the kids. It's just a difficult topic to teach. I recommend the definition approach next time, even though it sounds really not flashy or exciting. Kids really get it, I think, because they get to focus on just one thing instead of a bunch of little disjointed half-knowledge.untilnextstophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285583728476473117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651514617266100245.post-76317150361535305502012-12-13T18:04:12.376-05:002012-12-13T18:04:12.376-05:00Hi, I just started reading your blog recently, and...Hi, I just started reading your blog recently, and I wanted to comment on this because I just finished teaching logs in a pre-calc class for the first time. I had a similar experience where I would try to do harder and harder things with logs and they would keep forgetting the basic definition. I tried going in to log as the inverse of exponential functions, but the way you write log is so visually different from exponential functions, and the connection just didn't get made for a lot of kids.Katie Waddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08606201064344350118noreply@blogger.com