Commentary: Combinatorics Portfolio
This is the
portfolio assignment I gave for my class in the Spring of 2005. This class ended up being unusual and quite
wonderful. I started the semester by
teaching one class, and then missing two weeks due to illness. I wasn’t able to get a sub; there were only
six students in the course, most of whom I already knew; and the students met
without me while I was sick. We were
testing a wonderful book by Doug Ensley, Introduction to Discrete Mathematics: Mathematical
Reasoning with Puzzles, Patterns and Games, which was quite
readable. The students were diligent
about doing their work, and they set up the format for the course themselves my only qualm was that they assigned
themselves too much homework, and thus got bogged down in places!
When I came back to school, we kept much of the course format that the students put in place. We had students photocopy portions of their work and used it as a text for class time. Students received only comments on the work they turned in and could submit multiple copies. In the end, I used this portfolio for a final assessment. It was based somewhat on one that Doug Ensley has on his website.
This was one of the more radical course formats I’ve used, and one of my favorites. It depended on having a small group of highly motivated students, who encouraged and helped each other. The portfolio was in line with the course, and worked well. 7/05