For various reasons I’m doing one of the least progressive things I’ve done in years this week: cramming three months’ worth of calculus into several students within seven days. We’re moving very fast and it’s reminiscent of teaching summer courses that cram 14 weeks into 6; except here the compression ratio and the students’ abilities are both higher.

What surprised me was that the students were handling it better than I did. It’s been a while since I’ve done a high intensity lecture/lesson and I forgot how tiring it is for both the students and me—which is why I try not to do it unless I have to.

At some point this next week I also need to relearn most of my multivariable calculus since I’ve forgotten it completely since the last time I used it and, well, I need to teach it in two weeks. Multivar is really a useful subject! It’s just that I don’t use it. Except maybe to optimize things in Facebook games sometimes.

Wing :: Jan.07.2010 :: Posts :: No Comments »