Gary Jensen Last modified: Thu Jan 10 11:24:06 CST 2008
Description: This is a mathematics content course for prospective elementary school teachers. The goal of this course is to build a solid understanding of the mathematics of grades K through 6. Such an understanding sees mathematics as a rational enterprise in which all concepts can be explained logically from a small core of ideas based in everyday experience. This understanding of mathematics is the foundation on which successful teaching of mathematics must build. Starting with an analysis of whole numbers and counting, the course develops the ideas of numeration, whole number arithmetic, elementary number theory needed for fractions, arithmetic of fractions, decimals, percentage, probability, statistics, ratio and proportion. Measurement and geometry are used as a source of applications. The number line is used throughout as a means to visualize the concepts of number and arithmetic and how they relate to their applications. The course will emphasize:
Time and Location: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 - 11:30 am in 122 Ridgley.
Textbook: Arithmetic for Teachers, by Gary R. Jensen, American Mathematical Society, 2004. A lesson schedule is posted on the calendar of the Math 266 telesis web site.
Examination Schedule: There will be one midterm exam and a final exam. In addition to these written exams, each student will give a 15 minute oral presentation, followed by 5 minutes of discussion, on a topic of the course chosen in consultation with the instructor.
The midterm exam is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 6, in class. This date will be discussed and finalized during the first week of class.
The Final Exam is scheduled for 6-8 pm Tuesday, May 6, 2006.
The oral presentation is given outside of class. Friends of the presenter may attend. It must be completed before the final exam.
The exams will be of the free response type. Questions will be of the following types:
Practice exams will be posted as pdf files on the course telesis web site.
Make-ups will be given for the exams only in the event of excused absences. Legitimate excuses from an exam (for example, verified illness, family emergencies, etc.) should be brought to Professor Jensen's attention as soon as possible, preferably before the exam. Make your end of semester travel reservations carefully, as a conflicting travel reservation is not a valid excuse for missing, or rescheduling, the final. Unexcused absence from any exam will result in a score of zero for that exam.
Requirements: Students will learn the material by reading the text, doing practice exercises, doing the homework problems and attending class where concepts and exercises will be discussed. Class participation is expected.
Computer usage: Computers will be used for e-mail and web access during the semester.
Class attendance: Classes run from 10:07 to 11:30. Please arrive on time and stay until the end of class. Late arrivals and early departures are disruptive. Because the class lectures and the class discussions are of central importance for this class, attendance is required. Any student absent more than three times will be asked to drop the course.
Homework: A written homework assignment will be
handed out each Tuesday and collected at the beginning of class the following Tuesday.
Homeworks will be graded, with comments, and returned in class the
next Thursday.
The homework must be written on 8.5 x 11 paper, not torn
from a spiral notebook. Multiple pages must be stapled together.
Unstapled papers will not be accepted.
As an aid in learning what is expected on homeworks, students may
resubmit the first homework assignment.
It will be regraded
and the second score will be the one used for that assignment.
These
assignments will count towards the grade. Each assignment will be worth
100 points. The homework score for the course will be the
average, H, of the 13 homeworks.
Collaboration: This course will follow the guidelines set down under the Academic Integrity Policy of Arts & Sciences. Students are encouraged to collaborate on all homework and to form study groups. However, each student must write up and hand in his or her own homework assignments. You might have worked a problem with someone else, or someone else showed you how to do the problem, but you must then write up the solution on your own. At the end of each assignment list the names of everyone with whom you worked, or who gave you help, on the assignment, in accordance with the guidelines of the academic integrity statement. Suspected violations of these guidelines will be referred to the Committee on Academic Integrity.
Calculators: Calculators will not be needed in the course.
Grades:
Your grade for the course will be based on your
midterm exam score (30%), your final exam score (35%), your lecture
(5%) and the average of your written homework scores (30%). Let E be your midterm
exam score, F your final exam score, L your lecture score (out of
possible 100)
and H the average of your homework scores (as described above)
Let
These are available from the course telesis web site.
This page has been visited
times.
Gary Jensen
Last modified: Thu Jan 10 11:24:06 CST 2008