MATH-110 Number Systems Spring 2006 Section 1 Eric Kuennen 3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Eric Kuennen
Email: kuennene<at>uwosh.edu
Office: 201 Swart Hall
Web: http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/kuennene/
Phone: 424-1017
Class Time/Place: M,W, F: 9:10-10:10 in Swart Hall 4
Office Hours: My officically designated office hours are:
- Mon, Wed, Fri: 12:40-1:40
- Tues, Thurs: 9:10-11:20
When I am not teaching a class, I am usually in my office and available. My class schedule is posted on my door. Feel free to stop by at any time, or make an appointment.
Course Webpage: (D2L) https://uwosh.courses.wisconsin.edu/
Course Description
Exploring, conjecturing, communicating and reasoning within the content domain of the whole numbers, the integers, the rational numbers and the real numbers. Includes experiences with sets, number sense and numeration, number systems, number theory, concepts of operations on numbers, computational algorithms and estimation. Open only to students in Elementary and Special Education.
Prerequisites
Mathematics 100 with a grade of C or better or placement above Milestone level 10.
Textbooks
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers , 6rd edition, by Bennett and Nelson.
Number Systems: Course Materials for Math 110, available only at the UWO Bookstore.
Calculators: Calculators will not be allowed on any quizzes or exams.
Course Objectives
This course is a mathematics content course that is designed for elementary teachers. The mathematics content includes material that you may someday teach in your own classes, and also material that will deepen your understanding of the mathematics you may teach, improve your problem-solving skills and ability to think mathematically and communicate mathematics to others. This course is designed to give you experience in thinking mathematically. This means that you will solve problems, make conjectures, make arguments, learn to listen and evaluate the claims of others, and communicate your findings and ideas.
By the end of this course you will (1) become an experienced problem-solver; (2) explain mathematical ideas using appropriate language, notation, arguments and models; (3) understand the fundamentals of logical thinking and the distinction between deductive and inductive reasoning; (4) understand the structure that underlies our familiar number systems, operations, and algorithms learn models for illustrating numbers and operations; (5) understand children’s thinking in arithmetic; (6) understand elementary number theory including prime factorization, the relationship between fractions and decimals, and the distinction between rational and irrational numbers; and (7) have a more profound appreciation of mathematics.
Course Outline
- Unit 1: Problem Solving including strategy and verbalization: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (~6 classes)
- Unit 2: Sets, Logic and Operations: 2.1 and 2.3 (~7 classes)
- Unit 3: Arithmetic including place value, bases and algorithms: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 5.1 (~10 classes)
- Unit 4: Number Theory including prime numbers: 4.1, 4.2 (~6 classes)
- Unit 5: Fractions, Rational and Irrational Numbers: 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.4 (~7 classes)
Course Format
This course is probably unlike any math class you’ve had before. Class time will be spent in working on interesting problems in small groups and discussing problem solving ideas and solutions as a class. Sometimes you will be asked to write up those ideas and solutions for me. You are always expected to think about the problems, partipate in their solutions, and communicate your ideas with others. This format will give you the opportunity to practice skills that you will need to be a teacher: listening and making sense of other people’s mathematical ideas, explaining your ideas to others, and helping others understand mathematics. “What is good education? Systematically giving opportunity to the student to discover things by himself.” - George Polya
Expectations/attendance
You are expected to attend every class session, and to read the text and work on problems outside of class on a regular basis. It is very important that you are in class to participate in the problems and contribute to the class discussion. If you must miss a class session, I expect you to notify me in advance. If you are absent from class, you are responsible for the material covered. Arrange to copy another student's notes and be informed of any announcements made during class. Quizzes, graded group work or other in-class assignments may not be made up if you are absent from class.
Homework/Quizzes
Problems for you to practice outside of class will be assigned at each class. Success in the course requires that you do the homework. Actually “doing” mathematics is the only way to understand mathematics. The assigned homework problems are the primary model I use to write the exams. I urge you to work in groups outside of class. If your group is having difficulty with the homework, come to me for help.
In addition, there will be out-of-class assignments and in-class quizzes based on the homework given periodically as announced in class. No late assignments or make-up quizzes will be allowed.
Writing Assignments
You will be asked to submit a writing assignment on average every two weeks. This will typically be a Problem Description of a problem solved individually or in group work. Problem Descriptions should be typed or printed in ink and include: (1) a explanation of the problem showing that you understand what is being asked, defining terms and notation, and stating any assumptions being made, (2) a description of the problem-solving strategies you tried, including methods that were not successful and comments on why they did not work, and showing data, tables, sketches as appropriate, (3) your solution to the problem, and (4) an explanation of the solution including why your solution makes sense, why there are no other solutions and, and proving it is correct.
Exams
There will be 3 exams given in class, on Mon Feb. 27, Fri April 7, and Fri May 12. Coverage will be announced in class prior to the exam. Except for illness documented with a written medical report or extreme emergencies with prior or timely notification, there are no provisions for taking exams at any but these regularly scheduled times.
Grading
Your grade in this course will be based on:
- 5% attendance (you will lose 1 percentage point (up to 5 percentage points) for each class missed after two missed classes)
- 15% homework/quizzes
- 20% writing assignments
- 60% exams, 3 at 20% each
To calculate your grade at any point in the term, use the following scale. I reserve the right to lower these percentages, but they will not be raised.
A 93-100 B 83-87 C 73-77 D 60-67
AB 88-92 BC 78-82 CD 68-72 F 0-59
Grades are based on performance, not need. No “extra” credit will be offered.
Incompletes
According to the Student Bulletin, an Incomplete grade can be assigned only when a student is unable to complete the course work because of illness, injury, or other extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control.
Dropping the course
According to the Student Bulletin, the primary responsibility of dropping a class resides with the student. February 10th is the last day to drop with a full refund. March 20th is the last day to withdraw from the course. A student wanting to drop a course after that deadline may appeal with a REQUEST FOR LATE DROP FORM describing relevant extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control.
Academic Misconduct
Any form of academic misconduct including cheating on a quiz or exam, or in any way seeking to claim credit for the work or efforts of another person will be dealt with in accordance with system policy UWS 14, as referred to in the UW Oshkosh Student Discipline code. (http://www.tts.uwosh.edu/dean/studentdisciplinecode.html ) Penalties that may be imposed include a failing grade for the course, disciplinary probation, and expulsion from the university.
Hints
- Don’t misuse the answers in the back of the book. Do not cheat yourself by looking first at the answer to see how to do the problem. This will not help you practice doing problems on your own like you need to do on the exams and in the real world.
- You are encouraged to work in groups on your homework. Being able to communicate mathematically with others is a great way to understand mathematics.
- Don't wait until you have fallen behind to seek help from me. This course will contain new and difficult ideas and it is always worthwhile to discuss homework or issues you have with the course with me. I interpret such consultation as a sign of strength and interest.
- Merely showing up and completing the course is not sufficient to pass my classes; you must demonstrate on your exams that you have gained a basic understanding of the material.