1. Course: MATH 2243(1)(2) /EDUC 2461(1)(2) Fundamental Concepts in Mathematics
2. Instructor: Charles Edmunds Office: Evaristus 379 Phone: 457-6260 (Leave a message)
email: [email protected] Website: http://geocities.com/ce3927/
3. Timetable: Lecture: (C. Edmunds � Evaristus 108) Section 1: T, Th 1:00 � 3:30 Section 2: T, Th 4:30 � 7:00
Lab: (Amanda Bayard � Room TBA) T, Th 4:00 � 5:00, T or Th 7:00-8:00 (this may vary)
Attendance at the Lab is optional. The Lab will be a general help session where students can get individual and small
group help from the lab instructor.
4. Text: Mathematics for Elementary Teachers: A Contemporary Approach, (Eight Edition)
by Musser, Burger, and Peterson.
5. Marking: Home�work.................................(approx.) 20%
Problem Solving Journal...........(approx.) 15%
Midterm Examination...............(approx.) 20%
Final Examination*.....................(approx.) 40%
Instructor's Evaluation ..............(approx.) 5%
TOTAL:....................................................100%
*Note: For all students, if the final exam mark is higher than the midterm mark, the average of the two will replace the midterm mark.
Homework will be assigned periodically throughout the course. Homework will be accepted after the due date up to and including the day it is returned to the class. If homework can�t be handed in on time, the student may (with the permission of the instructor) hand in an alternate assignment (this can only be done twice).
The Problem Solving Journal will consist of evidence, compiled by the student, on experiences in problem solving using Polya's four step method. Each section of exercises in the text book is followed by an extensive section of "Problems" to solve. Adequate evidence of problem solving experience will require that a minimum of 10 distinctly different problems appear in the student�s journal. Marks will be determined by the variety of problems and problem solving methods with which the student illustrates competence. Students may, if they wish, ask for a review of their Journals at any time during the course to make sure they have the right idea. The Journal is to be passed in one week before the last day of class. It will then be marked and returned at the last class. Use your creativity in producing your Problem Solving Journal, but you must include:
1. A minimum of ten problems solved by Polya�s Four Step Method. At most five of the required ten problems may be taken from handed in homework. Therefore there must be at least five additional problems presented which were NOT assigned as homework. Each problem should be stated in full at the top of a new page. All work for all four steps should be shown. Handed in homework does not have to be recopied as long as it is legible.
2. A Table of Contents.
A numbered list of titles indicating the content for each problem and an indication of the Plan used to solve the problem
(Example: Problem 1....... How many squares?..... Make a list.)
3. An Overall Look Back on the whole experience of making your Problem Solving Journal with your own personal comments on the value of the experience and what you learned from it.
Midterm and Final Examinations will consist of skill testing on calculational material presented during the course (see the homework assignments for examples of this type of question), Short answer questions testing an understanding of contrasting and similar terms (the language of mathematical concepts), essay questions helping to show a deeper understand�ing of the course material (especially lectures), and problem solving questions that allow students to show how their problem solving skills are developing.
6. Content: We will work on Chapters 1 � 7, 10, 12, in the text. A sheet of specific content will be distrib�uted in class.
7. Policies:
Policy on Errors in Marking Homework or Exams: Students are encouraged to check the marking of all work they hand in. If there are any questions about how an item was marked or how many points were taken off, the issue should be brought to the instructor to be resolved. There will always be errors in marking: this is unavoidable. It is the student�s responsibility to catch such errors and report them.
Late Homework Policy: Homework will be assigned with a �due date�. You may always hand your homework one class later. A homework assignment will still be accepted for marking the day it is handed back from the marker, but no later. If your homework is not handed in on time (for whatever reason) speak to the instructor about an alternate (make up) assignment. If the need arises, students may complete at most two of these �make up� assignments during the course. Homework that is not handed in on time and is note completed by a �make up� assignment will receive a mark of zero.
Missed Midterm Policy: If the Midterm exam is missed (for whatever reason), see the instructor. There are various remedies for this situation. There will be a �Make Up Midterm� that counts as the Midterm.. If the instructor and student agree that the Make Up Midterm should not be used as the Midterm mark, for whatever reason, then the student may take the �Make Up Midterm� anyway. Although it will not actually �count� towards the final mark, it will give the student the experience of writing the midterm and having it marked for feedback. Some students would prefer to have the final exam (or selected items from the final exam) count as the midterm. These are possibilities that the instructor will discuss with each student who approaches him after missing the midterm.
Midterm mark below 60% Policy: If the midterm mark falls below 60%, the student is allowed to take the �Make Up Midterm�. It will be marked, the mark recorded, and the exam returned. The �Make Up Midterm� mark will be considered along with the actual Midterm mark and may effect the instructor�s final calculation of the course mark. Whether the �Make Up Midterm� mark is used and in what way it is used to calculate the final mark is the instructor�s choice. The student is asked to trust the instructor to be fair in evaluating the work submitted for marks.
Policy on missed Final Examination: If a student misses the final examination, it is the student�s responsibility to contact the Registrar�s Office to determine the resolution of that problem. The professor must deal through the Registrar with any student missing a final exam for whatever reason.
Policy on the use of language: Correct use of language is one of the criteria included in the evaluation of all written assignments. Quality of expression in writing will count for at least 20% of all written work. This includes: 1) pro�per spel�ling, punctuation, and gram�mar, and 2) correct usage and a direct logical style.
Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating: Students are reminded that the University regulations on Plagiar�ism and Cheating will be strictly enforce�d. These regulations are posted on departmental bulletin boards and information is also available from your professor.
Professor's Statement on "from sources or in a manner disal�lowed": All materials presented for evaluation, including homework, papers, quizzes, tests, and examinations, must be solely the work of the student presenting these materials. If books, notes, or calcula�tors are to be allowed for use in an examina�tion, the professor will announce this prior to the exam and comment, in writing, on the exam paper that this is the case.