Math 3150 Syllabus

Course Syllabus
Math 3150
Problem Solving and Connections
We meet on Tuesdays & Thursdays in Room 207 from 2:00-3:15

Instructor:
Lisa A. Sheehy
213 Newton Oakes
Work Telephone (706) 864-1808
Home Telephone (706) 867-8480
e-mail: lsheehy@ngcsu.edu


Prerequisites for Math 3150
Six hours of college-level mathematics to include MA 2400 and junior or senior standing

Course Rationale
This course designed for elementary and middle grades pre-service teachers focuses on recognizing, using, and learning about mathematics in the context of real-world situations and problems. Deliberate connections to the sciences, social sciences, and fine arts incorporate mathematical topics drawn from algebraic and non-algebraic functions, probability, and discrete mathematics. This course is designed for teachers of grades PreK-8 and focuses on mathematics content, instructional strategies and materials, instructional technology, and assessment techniques appropriate for grades PreK-8. This course is predicated on the belief that knowing mathematics is doing mathematics. Only when students construct their own understanding through active involvement and reflection does true mathematics learning occur.

Metacognitive Model & Teacher Education Program Competencies
The NGCSU Mathematics Education Program prepares teachers to assume within the school
community the roles of Decision-Maker, Facilitator, and Leader as identified in the metacognitive model. Twelve Teacher Education Program competencies reflecting the model are aligned to a specific role. Overlap into more than one role and mathematics course may occur. Current research and professional standards identify these competencies as important for effective teaching (NBPTS and ASCD Framework).

Decision-Maker	Facilitator	Leader
Assessment	Individual Differences	Ethical Perspectives
Planning	Subject Matter Knowledge	Reflection/Metacognition
Problem Solver	Communication	Professional Leadership
Methods, Materials, Resources	Classroom Management	Research & Evaluation

Course Content

Students in Math 3150 will have the opportunity to study...

Algebraic, exponential, trigonometric, rational, and logistic functions
Experimental and theoretical probability
Simulations
Elementary counting techniques and combinatorial methods
Finite graphs, matrices, networks, and sequences

Course Objectives

Students will be able to:

engage in mathematical, epistemological, curricular, and pedagogical investigations (and read and discuss relevant research and literature)
become familiar with the NCTM Standards and relate elementary and middle grades geometry concepts to the Standards.
reflect on becoming a mathematics teacher.
communicate and reason mathematically, solve problems, investigate different representations, and make mathematical connections as discussed in the NCTM Standards.
explore problems and describe results using graphical, numerical, physical, algebraic, and verbal mathematical models or representations,
formulate, represent, abstract, and generalize in situations within and outside mathematics,
apply a wide variety of strategies to solve problems and adapt the strategies to new situations,
monitor and reflect on their mathematical thinking in solving problems,
recognize and use connections among different mathematical ideas,
develop a repertoire of mathematical representations to model and interpret physical, social, and mathematical phenomena,
use experimental or theoretical probability to represent and solve problems involving uncertainty,
model situations by devising and carrying out experiments or simulations to determine probabilities,
model situations by constructing a sample space to determine probabilities,
compare experimental results with mathematical expectations,
make predictions that are based on experimental or theoretical probabilities
construct and draw inferences from charts, tables, and graphs that summarize real-world data,
use curve fitting to predict from data,
select appropriate instructional technologies for gathering, describing, and analyzing data and making predictions,
explore periodic real-world phenomena using the sine and cosine functions,
explore real-world phenomena using exponential and logistic functions,
model situations using the technique of finite differences,
represent problem situations using discrete structures such as finite graphs, networks, matrices, sequences, and recurrence relations,
represent and analyze finite graphs using matrices,
apply the principles of counting in combinatorial mathematics,
explore real-world phenomena using sequences and series, and
use recursive thinking in making conjectures and generalizations

Required Textbooks and Resources

Texts

Title: Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (with CD-ROM)
Authors: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Publisher: NCTM
You may purchase the book or use the online version at http://www.nctm.org

Materials

Please bring a TI-83 Graphing Calculator to class

Assignments

Weekly assignments will be discussed in class and posted on the course webpage. Below is an overview of the projected types of assignments and corresponding points. This is just an approximation. I firmly believe that students' interests, questions, concerns, etc... should be a significant part of any course planning. Thus, I reserve the right to make changes as we go.

Type of Assignment	Brief Description	Approximate # of Points
Classroom Activities	Write-ups of classroom activities or investigations	10pts each for ~ 150pts
Mathematical Investigations	Assigned Homework Problems	10pts each for ~ 150pts
Problem Solving Journal	10 problems from the Intermath website selected, solved and reflected on	100pts
Reflection Papers	1-2 page reaction to weekly readings or prompts that address issues of Curriculum, Research, and Pedagogy	10pts each for ~ 150pts
Quizzes	Announced and un-announced in-class quizzes given periodically	~100pts
Takehome Midterm	Given the week of midterms	100pts
Final Exam	In-class exam given on the university scheduled date and time	150pts
Attendance and Participation		100pts

Grades

Your final course grade will be assigned base on the percentage of total possible points a student earns during the semester.

A = 90 % or higher

B = 80 - 89 %

C = 70 - 79%

D = 60 - 69%

F = Below 60%

Attendance Policy

As part of being a professional teacher, regular participation in course activities and on-time completion of assignments is expected. If you are ill, please call and leave me a message letting me know that you will be missing class. If there is a date that you know you will be absent due to personal reasons, please let me know that in advance. Not only is this professional behavior, it also helps me help you. I will be able to let you know in advance what you will be missing and I can ask someone in the class to allow me to copy notes for you. Please note that according to the policies of North Georgia College & State University, students that miss more than 14% of the scheduled classes may be dropped from the course (see p. 59 of the Undergraduate Bulletin).

Academic Integrity

The integrity code will be upheld in this course. The NGCSU catalog states:

North Georgia College & State University is dedicated to providing an educational climate characterized by integrity. Academic integrity, in particular, must be the cornerstone of an institution of higher learning and must pervade all segments of the NGCSU community. Furthermore, academic integrity is the mutual responsibility of the various constituencies (students, faculty, staff, and administration) which comprise the university. The integrity code, "On my honor, I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize, evade the truth or tolerate those who do," reflects NGCSU's commitment to academic integrity.

Time on computers

In order to accomplish what you should from this course, you will be required at times to work on a computer in addition to the time we have in class. The usual expectation of 2 hours study outside of class for every hour in class is probably a minimum. There are several computer laboratories available in this building and around campus.