Course Information
Geometry and Probability for Teachers, Math 257 - Section 2
Fall, 2002

Office Hours: W,F 10-11am, M 12-1pm, M,W,F 2-2:30pm, by e-mail or appointment at other times.

You should use office hours (for all your classes) as an ongoing resource to address questions or difficulties that were not addressed in class.  Knowing your professor is a great motivator and a good way to get advice on courses and other education and career related decisions.

Free tutoring is available from the Math Center in the Center for Teaching and Learning, Museum 433 in Pocatello, CHE Room 306 in Idaho Falls.  Hours and information at www.isu.edu/ctl/math/math1.html.

Objectives: Mathematics is an important part of the education of all students because it helps students learn to think logically and critically and is used crucially in many fields and in daily decisions.  In the near future you will be teaching mathematics to elementary school students with widely varying abilities and interests.  This task is immensely important and must be carried out conscientiously.  Thus I expect you to master a substantial amount of mathematics and develop the ability to use the precise language of mathematics correctly.  Improving one's mathematical literacy can be difficult and frustrating at times, both for you and your future students.  But solving a problem, expressing an answer clearly, and making a decision based on understanding mathematical evidence are all rewarding processes that contribute to becoming a well educated and well rounded person.

By the end of this course you should:

• Know enough Probability, Statistics, and Geometry so that you will be able to answer questions from your future students about the mathematics you will be certified to teach.
• Be able to continue to learn additional mathematics on your own.
• Be able to communicate mathematics enthusiastically and clearly, both orally and in writing.
• See how mathematics, mathematical reasoning, and problem solving techniques apply to everyday situations that your future students will encounter.

Materials: The text is Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, 2nd edition, by Krause, Chapters 9-14.  Refer back to Chapter 1, Problem Solving, often, especially the strategies on p.2 and the steps on p.10.  A basic calculator, graph paper, protractor, compass, and straightedge will be helpful.

Accommodations: If you have a disability or think you have a disability (physical, learning disability, hearing, vision, psychiatric) which may need a reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADA Disabilities & Resource Center located in Graveley Hall, Room 123, 282-3599 as early as possible.

Format and Evaluation
This is a math content course, not a methods course.  However, I intend to use several different teaching methods and we will spend some time exploring teaching issues in class and in projects.  Class time will include a mixture of lectures and cooperative group work.  I expect you to come to class prepared by reading and thinking about the material ahead of time, trying as many homework problems as possible, and bringing questions to discuss in class.  You are responsible for material covered in all class sessions regardless of whether you have reason to be absent.

Homework will be assigned from the Review Exercises at the end of each chapter.  Show all work and include complete, clear explanations.  Organize and present your work neatly.  Papers should be stapled with no ragged edges. You should diligently write up careful, organized solutions to the Exercise Sets at the end of each section, though these will not be collected.  Several short projects concerning mathematical content and/or other issues will be assigned and graded throughout the term.  Since your lowest homework and lowest project grade will be dropped, I will accept no late homework or projects.

Studying together and discussing problems are encouraged, after you have worked hard on the material or problem yourself, since this can be a very effective and rewarding way to learn mathematics. Answers in the book are most valuable when used after completing a problem.  To be fair to your colleagues and to guarantee your own understanding, you must write up solutions in your own words and acknowledge in writing any assistance you received.  Sharing or copying complete solutions is not allowed.

Exams will include some questions that involve applying familiar concepts in new situations.  The three exam dates below are somewhat tentative, the final date is firm, so please mark it down now.  Exams can only be made up in cases of emergencies and you must provide an appropriate letter.
 

Overall percentages of 90%, 80%, 70%, 60% will guarantee the letter grades A, B, C, D. Cutoffs for +/- will be determined at the end of the semester, but will be within 3 percentage points of these values.

Philosophy: All of you have the potential to succeed in this course and hard work counts for a great deal (the example of writing your name with your other hand is meant to illustrate these ideas).  I continue to learn by expanding my knowledge of mathematics and its connections with other subjects, by doing original mathematical research, by understanding more about learning and teaching, and by working to teach in ever more effective ways.  I expect that you will also deepen your knowledge of mathematics and its applications, will learn to formulate questions that lead you to construct your own understanding of mathematics, and will know more about learning, problem solving, and teaching after you complete this course.  The most important skill you can gain from college is the ability to learn independently.

How to Succeed: In addition to the learning that takes place in the classroom, you will need to work hard to learn a great deal on your own, outside of the classroom.  Some habits that will help you learn actively (both in and outside of class) and succeed in this course are:

• Read the section before we discuss it in class.  Do not expect to understand everything the first time.  But reading the material ahead of time and trying some problems will help you

(1) be familiar with the basic ideas so you can participate and understand more in class, and
(2) identify what you do not understand so you can ask questions in class or office hours.
 
• Read actively so you will understand and retain the material better.  As you read, write down all questions you have, observations you make, and examples or computations you work out.  Take notes, make outlines, summaries, and lists of results in your own words.  Read when you are alert.

 
• Form study teams and discuss what you read and learn with others.  Talking to someone about the material will strengthen your knowledge and make studying more fun, even if that person is not in the class.  Working together you can get further than you can separately.

 
• Formulate, record, and ask questions.  If you work hard on a problem yourself and become stuck or do not understand an idea, seek out help from me, the Math Center, or fellow students.  Attempt assigned homework early so you have time to ask questions about it.

 
• Attend every class session on time if at all possible.

 
• Participate actively in group work and discussion during class.

 
• Take thorough notes in class, using your own shorthand and abbreviations in order to keep up.

 
• Re-read the material again after it is covered in class. Nearly everyone (including me) must read mathematics several times and think hard about it to fully understand it.  You will understand the material more deeply when you re-read it and connect it to ideas in this and other classes.

 
• Focus on definitions, conclusions, and methods. Mathematics is a language and it is absolutely necessary to understand the precise definitions of key terms.  Understanding why statements are true is also crucial.

 
• Learn from mistakes of your own and others (including me) made on homework or in class.

 
• Be organized, clear, and accurate.

 
• Work productively by developing efficient and effective study and problem solving skills.  Work at least 2-3 hours (on average) outside of class for every hour in class.  Keep a time log of how you spend each half hour of the day for a couple weeks to become more aware of your use of time.

I look forward to a successful and rewarding semester of learning together!