As I prepare my course materials for my return to full-time teaching, I am faced with documents in various formats, accumulated through the years. I have course materials typed using MS Office (.doc, .ppt), LaTeX (.tex) and HTML editor (.html). I have to decide which format I will eventually use, taking in consideration the current formats I have, the types of material (handout, problem set, presentation, quiz, etc.), future-proofing, accessibility to my students, and portability (in case I shift from one material type to another; for example, from paper quiz to online quiz).
MS Office formats are out of the running. I have decided to convert all documents away from these formats. I will likely have problems in the area of future-proofing whenever I use proprietary software. This decision is also a statement against the business practices of Microsoft.
I am choosing between LaTeX and OpenOffice.org. I am considering LaTeX primarily because of (1) its superb handling of Math elements (equations, fractions, radicals), (2) the many conversion tools to other formats (to PDF, HTML, etc.), (3) the many document classes available (for handouts, slides, quizzes, etc.), and the fact that Moodle can use TeX to render Math elements. In addition, LaTeX will allow me to create beautiful graphs for Discrete Mathematics classes.
Would you believe if I tell you that I was once a TeXpert, having designed about six years ago a document class still used by Math students of DLSU-Manila for their thesis/dissertation writing? However, probably because I am more of a visual person now, I prefer a WYSIWYG tool. I am looking more closely at OpenOffice.org. I have been using it regularly and am attracted to the fact that (1) it is an open source project, (2) it is free, (3) it runs on various platforms (Windows, Linux, OSX, Solaris), (4) it handles OpenDocument format (ODF; an open, ISO-approved standard), and, (5) since version 2.0.4, has an Export... > LaTeX 2e option. The last one is the clincher. It allows me to "have my cake and eat it too" -- the power of LaTeX and the WYSIWYG convenience of OpenOffice.org. As for the graphs, I can create them in LaTeX and insert them as graphics in my OpenOffice.org documents.
So I am choosing OpenOffice.org.
Let the conversions begin!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
ELEMSTA Course Materials
I am almost done with the task of compiling my teaching materials for Elementary Statistics (ELEMSTA). I even bought four clear file folders to host each of the four modules:
Next in line are my ALGEBRA course materials.
- Module 1 - Introduction and Data Organization
- Module 2 - Descriptive Statistics, Probability, Probability Distributions, and The Normal Distribution
- Module 3 - Confidence Intervals, Estimation, and Hypothesis Testing
- Module 4 - Correlation, Regression, and Analysis of Variance
- Handout
- Presentation (gives an overview of the module)
- Problem Set(s)
- Pair Work
- Quiz
- Teacher's Guide (only the one for Module 1 is complete)
Next in line are my ALGEBRA course materials.
Learning Computer Programming
My second child, Elmer, has expressed interest in computer programming and wants to take such a course in College. This is a change from his earlier I want to be a pilot aspiration. Anyway, I need to do something to sustain his interest. I thought of giving him reading materials on programming languages. But which one? Java? C++? C#? PHP? Python? Ruby? The problem is there are too many of them. In a couple of years, a new language might come along and might even become the one to learn.
I was talking to Lynne about this and told her that I wish I can find a book which discusses the basics of programming without referring to a particular language. I am referring to concepts like variables, operators, decisions and loops, functions and function calls, arrays, records, recursion, etc., which are implemented in any programming language. I even thought of preparing such a material if I cannot find any.
Well, I did find such a book -- Learning Computer Programming, by Mary Farrell. It gives an introduction to the common elements of programming. Here's the Book Description entry from Amazon.com:
As part of the CyberRookies series, this book is written for aspiring programmers, and teaches basic programming skills that can be easily applied to any language, including the key concepts of Loops, Strings, Array, Pointers, and more. Written by a high school programming teacher, Learning Computer Programming emphasizes the most relevant topics for beginners and pinpoints the essentials of programming success. There are so many programming languages in use today that it's difficult to decide which one to learn, especially for beginning programmers. With this in mind, Learning Computer Programming: It's Not About Languages focuses on programming skills instead of specific languages. Languages will always change so to become an effective programmer, it's important to understand the fundamentals before tackling a specific language. The book is language independent and uses examples from a variety of languages including the most popular C++, JAVA, and HTML, which each have a chapter devoted to them. Using helpful hints, activities, and watchouts, the book gently guides the student through the maze of programming techniques, concepts, and pitfalls.
I have asked Elmer to read on his own, take note of difficult concepts, and answer the included exercises. I will do the same and we will then compare notes. We'll see what happens.
I was talking to Lynne about this and told her that I wish I can find a book which discusses the basics of programming without referring to a particular language. I am referring to concepts like variables, operators, decisions and loops, functions and function calls, arrays, records, recursion, etc., which are implemented in any programming language. I even thought of preparing such a material if I cannot find any.
Well, I did find such a book -- Learning Computer Programming, by Mary Farrell. It gives an introduction to the common elements of programming. Here's the Book Description entry from Amazon.com:
As part of the CyberRookies series, this book is written for aspiring programmers, and teaches basic programming skills that can be easily applied to any language, including the key concepts of Loops, Strings, Array, Pointers, and more. Written by a high school programming teacher, Learning Computer Programming emphasizes the most relevant topics for beginners and pinpoints the essentials of programming success. There are so many programming languages in use today that it's difficult to decide which one to learn, especially for beginning programmers. With this in mind, Learning Computer Programming: It's Not About Languages focuses on programming skills instead of specific languages. Languages will always change so to become an effective programmer, it's important to understand the fundamentals before tackling a specific language. The book is language independent and uses examples from a variety of languages including the most popular C++, JAVA, and HTML, which each have a chapter devoted to them. Using helpful hints, activities, and watchouts, the book gently guides the student through the maze of programming techniques, concepts, and pitfalls.
I have asked Elmer to read on his own, take note of difficult concepts, and answer the included exercises. I will do the same and we will then compare notes. We'll see what happens.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Magyk
I finished reading Angie Sage's book entitled Magyk. It is the first book chronicling the adventures of Septimus Heap. He is like Harry Potter in the sense that they are both boy wizards. But unlike in the Harry Potter series where the setting is contemporary, the story of Septimus Heap seems to have taken place long ago and in a far away land.
Septimus Heap is the seventh son of a seventh son. He was kidnapped by a midwife on the day he was born. He was supposed to have been made the Apprentice of a wicked wizard named DomDaniel but somehow became part of the Young Army. At age 10, he met the Heap family again. At that time, the Heaps have Jenna, who is of the same age as Septimus. Jenna is actually the Princess, daughter to the murdered Queen. She was given to the Heaps for safekeeping by a wizard named Marcia Overstrand, on the same day Septimus was kidnapped. This secret was discovered by the enemies making it necessary for Jenna to be brought elsewhere.
The story continues with the journey of Jenna, Marcia, Silas (Septimus's father), Maxie (a dog), Nicko (a son of Silas), and Septimus (known to the others at that time as Boy 412, a boy soldier in the Young Army). They were pursued by a group led by the Hunter, whom they eluded. They managed to reach the abode of a witch named Aunt Zelda in the Marram Marshes.
DomDaniel later found the hiding place and went there on a ship called The Vengeance. Septimus (still known to the others as Boy 412), with Nicko and Jenna, piloted their recently-discovered Dragon Boat and engaged DomDaniel, who lost. Later in the story, the mysteries of the Dragon Boat and Septimus himself were unraveled.
What did this Book One tell me? Well, it is this -- what you have been born with, no one can take away from you. It is just then a matter of time and of preparedness, before you can be what you were made to be.
Book Two is entitled Flyte. In this book, I think Simon (another son of Silas and therefore a brother of Septimus) crossed over to DomDaniel's fold.
By the way, I bought Magyk at PowerBooks, Mall of Asia. Paperback. PhP 335.
Septimus Heap is the seventh son of a seventh son. He was kidnapped by a midwife on the day he was born. He was supposed to have been made the Apprentice of a wicked wizard named DomDaniel but somehow became part of the Young Army. At age 10, he met the Heap family again. At that time, the Heaps have Jenna, who is of the same age as Septimus. Jenna is actually the Princess, daughter to the murdered Queen. She was given to the Heaps for safekeeping by a wizard named Marcia Overstrand, on the same day Septimus was kidnapped. This secret was discovered by the enemies making it necessary for Jenna to be brought elsewhere.
The story continues with the journey of Jenna, Marcia, Silas (Septimus's father), Maxie (a dog), Nicko (a son of Silas), and Septimus (known to the others at that time as Boy 412, a boy soldier in the Young Army). They were pursued by a group led by the Hunter, whom they eluded. They managed to reach the abode of a witch named Aunt Zelda in the Marram Marshes.
DomDaniel later found the hiding place and went there on a ship called The Vengeance. Septimus (still known to the others as Boy 412), with Nicko and Jenna, piloted their recently-discovered Dragon Boat and engaged DomDaniel, who lost. Later in the story, the mysteries of the Dragon Boat and Septimus himself were unraveled.
What did this Book One tell me? Well, it is this -- what you have been born with, no one can take away from you. It is just then a matter of time and of preparedness, before you can be what you were made to be.
Book Two is entitled Flyte. In this book, I think Simon (another son of Silas and therefore a brother of Septimus) crossed over to DomDaniel's fold.
By the way, I bought Magyk at PowerBooks, Mall of Asia. Paperback. PhP 335.
A New Blog For A New Beginning
Well, it is a done deal. I am referring to my return to full-time teaching starting SY 2007-2008. It has been a long time since I taught full-time. It was SY 1997-1998 when I had my first appointment as an administrator. I was asked at that time by Rene Valladolid to be his Math Area Coordinator. Since then, I had been Chairperson (General Education Program, SY 1998-2001), Dean (School of Multidisciplinary Studies, SY 2001-2003), Director (Center for Learner-Centered Instruction and Research, SY 2003-2004), and Vice President for Academics (SY 2004-2007). It has been a long journey. I experienced both joy and sadness, successes and failures, ups and downs associated with the various jobs, appreciation and bitterness, challenges and boredom. I learned a lot of things.
Going back to full-time teaching is like a new beginning for me. It is like having a career shift entering midlife. I want to make sure that I will manage the transition. Creating this new blog is part of that weaning away from what I have been accustomed to do for the last ten years.
But I can't be in transition mode for a long time, can I? I want to hit the ground running. I want to continue doing things which interest me and things which I am good at. I am not getting any younger and I want to continue making a difference. I will see opportunities and make the most out of each. I will seize the day, because life is short and time is fleeting. Carpe diem!
Going back to full-time teaching is like a new beginning for me. It is like having a career shift entering midlife. I want to make sure that I will manage the transition. Creating this new blog is part of that weaning away from what I have been accustomed to do for the last ten years.
But I can't be in transition mode for a long time, can I? I want to hit the ground running. I want to continue doing things which interest me and things which I am good at. I am not getting any younger and I want to continue making a difference. I will see opportunities and make the most out of each. I will seize the day, because life is short and time is fleeting. Carpe diem!
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