Thinking Straight
Course Menu
Here is a way to improve yourself. It is called Thinking Straight. It uses a combination of: drawing, arithmetic, and a discussion of inspiration. It is based on teaching experiences!
Please note, however, that this is a rough draft of this course. I wrote a white paper, A possible relationship among emotional intelligence, STEM, and algebraic scores in prison, to justify how this method of Thinking Straight was used successfully in the North Carolina prison system to help incarcerated individuals pass algebra tests for college. I have also used this method in a Waldorf high school and in an alternative high school for students at risk. Please forgive the brevity of the course explanations - they need to be unpacked considerably more for this course to be worthy of the importance of the subject.
Thinking Straight
Estimation ...
Estimation is used more by scientists than calculation. It is also quite useful for sharpening basic arithmetic!
Estimation Rules
Easy Estmations #1
Easy Estimations #2
Easy Estimations #2 (with answers)
Advanced Estimations
Advanced Estimations (with answers)
​Dimensional Analysis ...
In your life, you will use estimation more than calculation. Almost everyone needs basic arithmetic. That’s what I teach you to do with this Dimensional Analysis. Dimensions are things you have measured – like inches and feet, or hours and minutes. Whether you are smart or not - I’ll teach you how to do this. Using this Dimensional Analysis, you will learn how to think straight! With these exercises you can use linear thinking to solve INCREDIBLE problems! Actually, you can use these to solve life’s problems, even more than learning math!!
Introduction
Rules for Dimensional Analysis
Introductory Problems #1
Introductory Problems #2
Introductory Problems #3
Introductory Problems #4
Introductory Quiz #1
Introductory Quiz #1 (with answers)
Introductory Quiz #2
Introductory Quiz #2 (with answers)
Fun Stuff
Fun Facts #1
Ancients & Numbers
Enrico Fermi & Pinocchio
A Gazillion
A Little Larger
Triangulation
Student-Inspired Problems
Ben Algava, Eric Lopez, Beth Cullen (HS)
Vinnie Garcia, Art Ellington (HS)
Deidre Banovich, Theresa Jones (HS)
Sam Leib, Mark Kelly, Deidre Banovich (HS)
Xenia Ellenbogen, Corey O’Brien (HS)
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