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Cuyamaca College
Instructor: Bryan Elliott Math 125 N101 TTh
12:30pm-2:20pm Section
1088
Description
of the Course
In
this course you will come to understand the roles number and measurement
play in mathematics. You will
explore large and small numbers, ways of operating on numbers, kinds of
numbers, symbols for numbers, benchmarks for large numbers and for
measures, mental computation, estimation of computations and of measures.
By the end of this course you should feel comfortable with numbers
and confident of your ability to deal with them.
You are expected to know all the elementary mathematics of numbers
because this course will not deal with those rules and standard
algorithms. Instead, you will
be inventing rules and algorithms, justifying your reasoning, solving
problems about numbers and measures, learning to work on mathematics with
other people and coming to understand how people think differently about
mathematics. You
will be creating a map of your own, so that you can teach mathematics
meaningfully. Welcome
to the journey. Prerequisites:
Math 103 with a C or better or its
equivalent. Textbook:
G.
Musser & W. Burger: Mathematics for Elementary Teachers; A
Contemporary Approach; Seventh Edition. Supplementary
Material:
Packet for M125 available in the
bookstore. A scientific
calculator (I strongly recommend a graphing calculator), ruler, colored
pens or pencils and graph paper. Also,
a strong positive attitude towards learning. Office
Hours:
My
office is E-114 and my phone number is 660-4551.
You can also email me (bryan.elliott@gcccd.net).
My office hours are Monday 730am-800am & 1100am-1200pm; Tuesday
830am-930am; Wednesday 730am-800am & 1100am-1200pm; Thursday
830am-930am. I am also
available by appointment. Please be sure to call or email me if you are
going to miss class to get the homework assignment so you can be prepared
for the next class. Learning
Resources: 1.
A student solution guide has also been placed on reserve for your
use in the LRC. The student
solution guide is not required for this class, but some students find it
very helpful. Class
Policies: 1. You are
expected to attend each class, arriving on time and remaining for the
entire class. If this is not
possibile it is your responsibility to discuss with the instructor the
reasons for arriving late or leaving early.
Please let me know at the beginning of class if you will need to
leave early. 2. You may be dropped
from the class for missing 3 class periods unless you convince me of your
motivation to stay, and your grades support this motivation. 3. You are responsible
for getting class notes from other classmates and getting any schedule
changes or other class announcements from classmates or the instructor on
days missed from the class. 4. You are expected to
be courteous to each other and to the instructor.
You will be asked to leave the class for display of behavior the
instructor deems as disruptive to the learning environment.
You are encouraged to establish study partners with whom you may
study and prepare for exams. 5. There will be no
excess talking while I am talking. If
you have a question about the material, you should address it to me, not
to your classmates. 6. If you feel you need
more help than I or other classmates can offer there is free tutoring
available in the Tutoring Center (LRC) or the Math Study Center (N104) for
extra help. You may contact
them at 660-4396 for more information. 7. You are responsible
for your own learning. You
should strive to make sense of mathematics.
Do not settle for rules and formulas unless those rules and
formulas are constructed while trying to make sense of mathematics, or, if
from other sources, are fully understood.
You should expect me to provide the learning environment and the
opportunities you need in order to learn in this manner. 8. You are expected to
work actively with your peers, sharing, taking and giving, listening and
explaining, questioning and answering.
You are responsible for being prepared for participation in class
discussions and in group work, and for assisting your peers to come to an
understanding of mathematics. 9. You are expected to
keep up to date, study the text and do the homework.
The usual rule of thumb for college courses is probably a minimum:
Two hours of study out of class for every hour in class.
You should spend at least this amount of time studying for this
class. Important
Dates to Remember: September
2:
Last day to add a class. Evaluation:
A.
Three exams, each 100
points..................................................................
300 points B.
Quizzes, each 15
points........................………….............................................
120 - 150points C.
Problem Solving Log, each 10
points........................................................
30 points D.
Projects, each 15
points...............................................................................
30 points E.
Service Learning
Project................................................................................40
points F.
Final examination
(comprehensive)..........................................................
150 points Tuesday, December 13 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm There
will be NO make-up exams or quizzes given under any
circumstances. In the event of a take-home quiz/exam the student is
responsible for turning in the quiz/exam on the due date specified to
class. Any
students seeking an "I" (incomplete) for a grade must file a
petition with me citing "unforeseeable, emergency, and
justifiable" reasons for this grade. Your
final grade is based on the percentage of the number of points you have
acquired over the semester to the total number of points possible.
An A = 90% of total points, B = 80% of total points, C = 70% of
total points, D = 60% of total points, F = below 60% of total points.
You
cannot get a passing grade in this class without taking the final exam and
getting an average of a passing score on each exam plus the final. Redo
Exams: After each of the
first TWO exams are handed back, you have the opportunity to redo any of
the problems in which you missed points.
This must be done on separate paper and turned in with your
original exam. Based on the
correctness of your revisions you can get a maximum of 10 extra points
added to your exam score. You
are also expected to have some mathematical skills from previous
coursework (as exemplified by the prerequisites) and you are held
responsible for exhibiting those skills before you can receive a passing
grade from this course. Examples
of such skills include accurately using all four operations on whole
numbers, fractions, and decimals. If
you do have questions regarding some of these skills, you may see me in my
office hours. Skill questions may be asked on exams, even though not
covered in class. Finally,
before receiving a passing grade from this course, you must exhibit an
ability to work flexibly with numbers and pictures.
You will be provided opportunities to acquire such an ability, but
it is your responsibility to work at this acquisition. Community
Service Learning (CSL) Project: The Community Service Learning component is worth 40
points. It requires working
in an elementary school classroom at least 10 TEN hours during this
semester, helping a teacher with students (hopefully during the math
lesson). In class, I will
discuss the logistics of how to find a classroom in which you can work.
There are several components, each with deadlines for completion. You must see me ahead of time if you have extenuating
circumstances that prevent you from adhering to the deadlines; otherwise
points are deducted. The
first three need to be completed as soon as possible. The other four
should be turned in after you complete the project.
The specific requirements (seven components) are listed below. Pay close attention to all requirements and deadlines. The
entire project is due on Tue.
December 6. 1)
Return the Student Placement Request form to me by
the date on the form. If you
are providing your own placement, return the form with the name of the
school and teacher under “First Choice.”
The Student Placement Request form with your assignment will be
returned to you at the next class. You
should accept a placement immediately and start as soon as you have your
TB skin test results (see #2). 2)
You will be required to have a negative TB skin test (or further
documentation that you do not have TB in the event of a positive TB skin
test) to work with children in an elementary school which can be done
through the Health & Wellness Center on campus (free).
Documentation regarding the TB skin test should be turned in to me.
Note:
Most of the above requirements should be accomplished the first
week of class. 3)
Return the Agency & Service Learning Agreement form, which
includes the school name, school address, school phone number, and the
name of the teacher(s) you will be working with after your first contact.
Be sure to have your signature and the school representative’s
signature and turn this form into me.
4) Keep a Time Sheet with you and
complete it as you work at the elementary school.
At the completion of the 10 hours, have your supervisor sign it and
return it to me. You will not
receive credit for participating in Community Service Learning without
this sheet. 5) (15 points) Keep and submit a
Community Service Learning journal (a blue book works well). After each visit, write the day, date and time of each visit
to a classroom. Then write a
paragraph or more summarizing the events of each visit, your observations
and what you learned. The
goal is to be actively involved with the students, although observing is
also important. This is due on Tue.
December 6th, or points will be deducted. 6) (25 points) Write and submit a
thoughtful, reflection paper (AT LEAST TWO FULL DOUBLE-SPACED, TYPED PAGES
including at least 500 words) about this community service experience and
how it ties in to some of what you learned in this class, as well as your
thoughts, observations and feelings.
The paper is due on Tue.
December 6, or points will be deducted.
I will keep your reflection paper.
The reflection paper should be quite different from the journal.
It needs to be a paper where you REFLECT on the entire experience
and think about what you've learned from participating in this project.
If you turn in a thoughtful paper of at least 500 words, you will
earn most of the points. See * below for writing expectations. There
should be a cover sheet for your reflection paper.
In the upper left corner of the cover sheet, type the following: Fall 2005 Math 125 Community
Service Learning Reflection Paper Instructor: Bryan S Elliott Then, in the middle of the cover
sheet, you may give your paper a title. Whether or not you title it, you
should write in the middle that it is by "Your Name." Staple
your 2 -3 reflection paper pages together, with this cover sheet on top. 7) The Supervisor
Report/Evaluation sheet, with the signature of and evaluation comments
from the mentor teacher, must be returned to me on or before Tue.
December 6.
You will not receive credit for participating in Community Service
Learning without this sheet. The completed Community Service
Learning Project should be turned in with parts 4, 5, 6 and 7 (above)
included: On top should be your stapled reflection paper. Use a paper clip
(NOT A STAPLE) to attach the signed blue evaluation sheet (make sure the
form is completely filled out, signed, dated, etc.), time sheet, and your
Community Service Learning journal to the back of your paper. |