Response by Alyssa

 Dear Dani,
I am sorry that I have not put forth all the effort that I could into
this class, I know how frustrating it must be to come in each morning to
a class that doesn't really care. I know i've had days when I want to try
and others when I don't.
I don't know the exactly what the problem is but I also don't think there
is ONLY one problem. I personally chose to be in this class because i had
heard so many great things about it and was rather excited to join.
I guess one problem i see is that there is a lack of connection between
each person in the class which in turn creates this judgemental
atmosphere which i know makes me uncomfortable and i'm sure others feel
the same. I wish that as a class we could somehow come together and start
working as a group instead of feeling like we have to be spontaneous on
an individual level. I don't even know the names of everyone in the
class; its almost as each day feels like the first day all over again.
I also feel confused about what is actually expected out of this class. I
understand that you want us to be creative and come with activities that
include the whole class, spark imagination, use both sides of our brains,
but I feel like I don't have anything to base this off of. If i had a few
ideas to get me started i'm sure something would happen, but i feel like
there's NO plan of action, no ideas to spur other ideas. Who knows, maybe
none of this makes sense, but i'm just frustrated. I left class on friday
feeling so depressed about the potential of this class and i really want
to change what has been happening, but i need some help, not just from
you but from everyone.
 
 
 

Response by 110984

 Dear Dani,
I am sorry too that I have not put as much effort into this class as I
should have.  After class on Friday, I felt so horrible, even though I
know that was not your intention.  i think a lot of us felt terrible
about why we took this course and how we have been acting.  I know I took
this course for an easy A and because I heard it was fun and something to
do to kill 50 minutes and just boost your GPA and that's what I needed.
I know now from these past few weeks that this class is more than that,
it is something deeper and more spiritual than I expected.  I feel like
we all need to realize how valuable this class can be to our lives and
really open up to it.  If we give it a chance, it can be a very rewarding
class.  If we get rid of our limits and let go of our boundaries and just
think of this as a class that can teach us about loving life and actually
feeling not so stressed about it.  I think we all need to look at how we
have acted during this class and change our views on how we percieve this
class and maybe open up our eyes to how enlightening this class can be.
 
 

Response by MG

 I was a bit bothered by our
class on Friday.  I know that I make a conscious effort to come each
morning, and have yet to miss a class.  I certainly understand the
frustrations that come with having so many students who feel it is
unecessary to show up.  I understand that it is hard to keep so many
emotions pent up inside, especially in a class as disconnected as ours
seems to be, but it did upset me that as one of the students who comes to
every class, I was among those reprimanded for my classmates behavior.  I
think we need to come up with a better way of getting our class to
communicate, because splitting into groups leaves me feeling disconnected
from most of the class. I'm not entirely comfortable with our midterm
system, because I don't know most of the people in our class well enough
to share my thoughts with them.
 
 

Response by Mary Lorraine Snauffer

 I agree with
some of the comments made by others here, that the class doesn't know
each other well enough and therefore it isn't an entirely safe place. I
don't think we will be able to fully learn from the class if we do not
make more of a point to really learn about each other, and feel safe with
one another. Sometimes the vibe in the class is positive, but other times
it is a bit intimidating. What makes it especially hard, I think, is that
it is a class filled with different ages and different majors. Many of us
are in class with people we aren't used to having classes with, which
adds to the walls. So I think we need to make more of a point of
establishing this is a safe place, and taking a class or two to learn
about one another.
 
 
 

Response by Melissa Chinigo

 I was sick all last
week and missed class on friday. Dani told me that to make it up I should
do
something nice for someone. He gave me the example of visiting a nursing
home. Since I was sick I was
unable to do that this weekend but I was reading the Ithacan friday and
it gave me an idea. There was
an article about wasted food in the dining halls and how student groups
used to take it to local
organizations that feed the hungry. This activity has been neglected in
the past years so tons of food is
going to waste. I was thinking maybe we could make this into a class
project. We could connect it to
math by calculating the amount of food going to waste and how much we
could save... just a thought.
 
 

Response by Nunzy

 Dani, i was reading what
others had written about attendance, class, and whatnot, and i too feel
bad/guilty; guilty that i don't put forth more effort into the class. I
have a lot of respect for you and the class, and every time we depart at
1:50pm, I leave feeling like i have learned something from you.  I really
appreciate your methods of teaching, and the recognition that learning
can’t be forced, it must be desired to be lasting. My desire to learn is
absolutely there but sometimes (I have begun to realize) I lack
motivation or something keeps me from asking questions, and participating
more in the classroom environment. All in all it comes down to the fact
that my attendance and log keeping abilities are not sufficient in
expressing the amount of appreciation I have for you as a teacher, and a
person Dani. I am sorry that on the whole I have been less than
sufficient at keeping my log journal; however that is not an indicator of
anything other than pure laziness.
 
 

Response by attendance -kelvin

 As I looked
around in the attendance records I see that my name is missing in various
days. I know I have been absent like 3 or 4 times but not as many as it
is shown here. I have been sick and sometimes have taken up our math
class to volunteer with the brothers from Lambdas Upsilon Lambdas.
 
 

Response by essay

 Can anyone tell me where to
find the link that explains the essay we have to write or just post the
information online. Thanks
 
 

Response by essay --kelvin

 Can anyone tell me
where to find the link that explains the essay we have to write or just
post the information online. Thanks
 
 

Response by nunzy

 Kelvin-
http://www.ithaca.edu/dani/classes/sharing/Spring_2005/midterm_grades.htm
l
 

Response by Michael Bolis
 
 
 
 
 

Response by Michael Bolis

 I think that the
structure of the class is very comfortable but next block I think there
should be a bit more of an schedual and group work to unite the class.
 
 

Response by Mary Snauffer

 I've enjoyed What Is
Math so far. I think that the class is more aware, in some sense, what
they are reaching for... I think we are slowly becoming more of a
community which I think is very important.
I am excited for the second half of the semester. I am excited for the
snow to melt, in particular. I think the class is on a positive track.
 
 

Response by moe velez

 i think this class has
been very interesting and an eye opening way to learn about new methods
of learning. It has turned math from something i fear and dislike to
something that i can learn to embrace. One thing that could be different
is the amount of direction we are given in the class. I feel as though we
were told what to do in a more specific manner, it could help sometimes
 
 

Response by erin

 i didnt expect this class to
turn out the way it did, but it has been fun and im learning alot.  it
isnt the typical math class which is cool because were learning how to
use math in our everyday lives.
 
 

Response by JFisher

 I think I'm more
comfortable in this class now than I was when we started. It's been hard
for me to get into the class because it's set up so differently from most
courses I've taken. I am getting used to the way class is directed, and
I'd be a little upset if it became really structured now. I'm a part of
the Math Art group and having a lot of fun just playing around with
SeeLogo, and creating new images with the program.
 
 
 

Response by 11/8/84

 Dani
I enjoyed the first half of the semester and im happy to see that the
class is becoming more comfortable with each other. i feel like i
participate a good amount but i miss hearing from everyone else, it seems
like many of the same students gets things rolling every class. i think
that during the next term we should all get to know ech other better. we
could do things like name learning activities and improv games or
orientation games. i think the better we work together the better the
class will be no matter what we all decide to teach and learn as
individuals!

 Response by alyssa
 
 
 This class has been a
journey but it's definitely not over yet. Dani you have been very
supportive and encouraging by trying to get the class to wake up and
participate and unfortunately we haven't responded in the most effective
way. But i Have hope for the next block. The air has seemed to change a
bit and that's a positive sign. I can tell that you have wonderful
intentions and that your soul is genuine--there should be more spirits
like your's in the world. THanks
 
 
 

Response by Monica, Amanda, Jason

 First of all
we are all joining together on this evaluation because there are not
enough computers so we are sharing.  Yay for sharing!
Monica wants to work with little kids and teach them all the math she
knows which isn't much, which is why she is taking this class.
Jason wants the class to be more challenging because he NEEDS to be
challenged, because he IS SO SPECIAL.
Amanda wants to take grammer, and she wants to do more math in What is
Math?  She is excited about next semester and she talks about herself in
the third person. Plus she wants Dani to stand on his head again.
We all want to do more math.
 
 

Response by luke taylor

 I addend all classes
except two.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this class, especially build the
igloo, (see picture in folder), juggling, and the rubix cube (my friend
eric thanks you again)I have learned great things about what math is in
the context of life, nice!  Have a great break,
Peace

 Response by ********
 
 
 I feel as though the first
block of the semester was limited because there was hardly any
socialization within the class.  I think that if we all started to talk
more and be less shy towards each other we could make a lot more
progress. I think everyone in the class has things in common with each
other and we should start to realize that and really branch out more.
 
 

Response by s. taylor

I enjoy the way class is going and don't thin kanything should change
 
 

Response by ktgirl123

 i dont really have any
suggestions for next block, keep up the good work Dani! i always enjoy
coming to class.
 
 

Response by Marietta

 March 2
Good class today, I liked the meditation. Suggestions for the rest of the
semester: Keep the same atmosphere and same approach in the class, it's
working well, at least for me
 
 

Response by nunzy

 03.02.05
One suggestion i have for this class for the second half of the semester
is participation. I understand that being a teacher is hard, especially
when it appears that the students in class are hard to engage. Therefor i
suggest that next half we all decide what we want to do, we have to
engage more, and share more experiences with eachother.
 
 

Response by kelvin

 In the next block we should
have some trips to work with old people and children.
 
 

Response by britney

 I haven't thought of any
suggestions for next block, but I hope that we will finish the project
Dani has set out for us unlike last time we started projects. this one
sounds very interesting and I would love to see it completed.
 
 

Response by King Flapjack

 What is math?
So far this semester in What is math I have learned that teaching doesnt
always have to be in the standard teacher lectures, you listen form.  In
this class we learn as a group, everyone sharing their own ideas and
helping everyone else.
 
 

Response by sarah v.

 i like the way the class
is going. we should get together in groups more often, it's great getting
to
know more people in the class. since we can't work with kids, maybe we
could volunteer some
place else for a few classes, like a nursing home or loaves & fishes. it
would give us a greater
appreciation for life and helping others. i think it would bring people
in the class together if we all
participate in some volunteering.