Amazon, Walmart, and other large-scale retailers owe their success partly to efficient inventory management. For such firms, holding too little inventory risks losing sales, whereas holding idle inventory wastes money. Therefore profits hinge on the inventory level chosen. In this activity, students investigate a simplified inventory-control…

All teachers, especially high school teachers, face the challenge of ensuring that students have opportunities to relate and connect the various representations and notions of mathematics concepts developed over the course of the pre-K-12 mathematics curriculum. NCTM's (2000) Representation Standard emphasizes the importance of students being…

University entrance examinations in China are described. Then the 1985 test is presented. (MNS)

Guidelines and steps for reviewing and selecting computerized instructional materials are reviewed. (MP)

Describes a series of eight project activities designed to increase student communication and assess student understanding during a unit on functions and relations. Discusses different methods of evaluation and students' reactions to the activities. (MDH)

Discusses aspects of cooperative problem solving that include the selection of appropriate problems and the grading of group and individual papers using an analytical scoring scale. Offers six tips for grading cooperative problem solving. An appendix provides solutions to cited problems, potential follow-up questions, and an annotated…

Describes alternative form of evaluation that enables the teacher to assign a grade to students problem-solving skills as they participate in a discussion to solve a problem. Discusses room arrangement, the role of the audience, grading, and secondary benefits of the method. (MDH)

Presents and discusses three instruments to evaluate: (1) student self-assessment; (2) assessment of cooperative learning tasks; and (3) student assessment of their teacher's effectiveness. Examples of the instruments are provided. (MDH)

Clarifies the benefits of having students write about their understanding and dispositions toward mathematics. Discusses ways to manage journal writing and incorporate it into existing classes. Suggests 19 assignments students can respond to in their journals. (MDH)

Discusses problem-solving evaluation methods and describes the development of an instrument to evaluate an individual's problem-solving processes. Provides an example of the instrument. (MDH)

Presented are two classroom techniques to help beginning teachers. The first is a student-sensitive approach to the first day of class using a questionnaire to assess students attitudes toward mathematics and student interests. The second is a suggestion on how to effectively review student homework. (MDH)

Presented are two ideas to improve instruction. The first celebrates the Christmas birthday of Isaac Newton with an essay assignment related to Newton and a party. The second suggests a more appropriate moment to introduce the technique of completing the square to promote greater flexibility in factoring problems. (MDH)