Math 1010 - Dr. Sarah J. Greenwald

Math 1010 for Watauga College and Teaching Fellows - Introduction to Mathematics (Liberal Arts Mathematics)
Dr. Sarah J. Greenwald
"We must prepare the next generation to be logical, flexible thinkers in a world that is increasingly complex and mathematical."

Required Resources

How Do You Know? Using Math to Make Decisions available for purchase

Heart of Mathematics available for rental

scientific calculator which can do powers (y^x or x^y or ^ symbol).

handouts (pick them up from my door if you miss a class)

3 ring binder notebook and a hole puncher to organize handouts and papers

access to a web-browser and to campus pipeline at least once every 48 hours

Where to Get Help

Office Hours 326 Walker Hall, 262-2363, I am always happy to help you in office hours. An open door means that I am on the floor somewhere, so come look for me to let me know you are there.

Check the main web page often (every couple of days and at least 3 times a week) for work due.

WebCT Bulletin Board Postings This is the easiest way to ask a math question outside of class and office hours. I prefer that you use office hours since it is easier to discuss material in person, but if you can not make them, then this is a great alternative. Sometimes I will respond to questions of interest with a message to the entire class, so you are responsible for reading all posts by me. I usually check the posts at least once a day, including the weekends.

Walker Math Help Faculty and students answer questions.

You may wish to obtain a tutor through the Learning Assistance Program - for group (free) or private ($$) tutors in D.D. Dougherty.

Grades

Participation 20% You are expected to contribute to discussions in a meaningful way and actively engage the material in class and lab. You must be prepared for each class and check the main web page regularly for hw. Satisfactory completion of these kinds of baseline activities will result in a participation grade of 16/20. Non-starred activities are also designed to help you learn the material and they can increase or decrease this grade. Asking and answering thought provoking questions, coming up with creative ways of thinking about the material, and explaining the material to others are some other examples of positive participation that will increase your grade. On the other hand, actions that illustrate you are not taking the class or the activities seriously or that detract from the professional classroom environment and distract Dr. Sarah (who is very easily distracted) will result in a lower participation grade. Many activities and class discussions are designed to be completed during class. Thus, attendance is required at ALL classes, and will form a portion of your grade. Department policy mandates that more than the equivalent of two weeks of classes, whether official and/or unofficial absences, will result in a grade of F. Save your absences for emergencies. If the university is open and you miss a class, then that counts as an absence. If you must be late to a class, or must leave early, then do still attend.

Tests 35% No late tests allowed^*

Projects 30% No late work allowed ^*

Final Project 15% Final project will occur Friday December 7, 2007 from 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM No make-ups allowed ^*
^* Work may occur during the last week of classes. Accommodations in the determination of your final grade will be made for extenuating circumstances that are documented to prevent you from completing work early/on time.

I believe that each of you has the capability to succeed in this course. Since you were able to register for the class, you have somehow showed that you have the required algebraic skills, via placement test or other indicators. Yet, sometimes, in order to succeed, we must change certain behaviors, study habits, and/or emotional reactions. We'll see that everyone (including Dr. Sarah and other mathematicians) struggles with mathematics. Success in mathematics is not determined by whether it comes naturally or seems "clear". Instead, success in mathematics is all about learning to use mistakes and material we are struggling with in order to grow. You can obtain a passing grade in this class by satisfactorily completing your work and missing no more than the equivalent of two weeks of class. Most people who do so will receive an A, B, or C in the course. To obtain an A in this class, you must demonstrate deep understanding of the material. Since the class meets for 5 hours per week and satisfies 3 designators, you should expect to put in the necessary time outside of class in order to complete homework and assignments on time.

Watauga College and Teaching Fellows Math 1010

This section of MAT 1010 is designed for Watauga College students and Teaching Fellows. You'll receive full general education math credit while developing a liberal arts appreciation of mathematics. While much of the class is similar to other Mat 1010s, it differs via an interdisciplinary and thematically linked format. You'll develop creative inquiry skills, research techniques, and communication skills. Math 1010 has been designated as a CD, ND, and C course. You'll also develop an appreciation of what mathematics is, what it has to offer, why it is useful, and the diverse ways that people can be successful at mathematics (including you!), as we study:
Geometry of our Earth and Universe How we view the world around us and what it actually looks like.
What is a Mathematician? The lives and mathematical work and styles of some famous mathematicians.
Personal Finance Interest formulas as they apply to the real world - credit cards, student loans, savings accounts, car and house purchases, taxes, retirement...
Consumer Statistics To recognize misrepresentations of studies and statistical data in the real world by applying statistical techniques.
Final Project In the final segment, you'll become a mathematician with a topic you are interested in as your field of study. You will communicate your expertise in a poster session.

Other Policies

Material is covered quickly so do plenty of exercises, more than those that are assigned. In mathematics classes, you can expect to spend 1-2 hours outside of class for each hour in class. As a general rule of thumb, on average, you can expect to spend about 2-3 hours outside of class per week reviewing material and class notes, 2-6 hours outside of class per week for homework assignments, and about 1 hour outside of class per week checking the main web page and WebCT postings. If you find that you are spending fewer hours than these guidelines suggest, you can probably improve your grade by studying more. If you are spending more hours than these guidelines suggest, you may be studying inefficiently; in that case, you should come see me.

When writing up work, be sure to give acknowledgment where it is due. Submitting someone else's work as your own (PLAGIARISM) is a serious violation of the University's Academic Integrity Code.

Methodology

Asking questions, and explaining things to others, in or out of class, is one of the best ways to improve your understanding of the material. This course is to be an environment in which everyone feels comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, offering good guesses and ideas, and is respectful to one another. You should think of me as a combination between a coach and a future boss and you should respect this dynamic in class, office hours and the bulletin board, as I try to guide you to success in this class by helping you develop professional skills.

You should explore each problem and write out your thinking in a way that can be shared with others. Focus on your own ideas. Turn in projects or prepare to present problems even if it they are not complete, even if only to say, "I do not understand such and such" or "I am stuck here." Be as specific as possible. Conjecture.

In this course, you will be challenged with problems that you have never seen before. I do not expect you to be able to solve all the issues immediately. Instead, I want to see what you can do on your own. Out in the real world, this is important, since no matter what job you have, you will be expected to seek out information and answers to new topics you have not seen before. This may feel uncomfortable and frustrating. I understand this and want to help you through the process. It helps to remember that there are no mathematical dead-ends! Each time we get stuck, it teaches us something about the problem we are working on, and leads us to a deeper understanding of the mathematics.

In the real world though, you are not expected to face your work alone. You will be allowed to talk to other people and you may even be expected to work with other people. In this class, you are also not expected to face your work alone. I encourage you to talk to me often in class, office hours, and the bulletin board, and group work will also be encouraged.

I am always happy to help you in class, during office hours (or by appointment), or on the WebCT bulletin board, and will try to give you hints and direction. At times though, to encourage the exploration process, I may direct you to rethink a problem and to come back to discuss it with me again afterwards. This occurs when I believe that the struggle to understand is imperative for your deep understanding of the material.

The text below is taken from Jeff Bennett's HINTS ON HOW TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE CLASSES. Copyright 2000, Jeff Bennett.

Presenting Homework and Writing Assignments

All work that you turn-in should be of collegiate quality: neat and easy to read, well-organized, and demonstrating mastery of the subject matter. Future employers and teachers will expect this quality of work. Moreover, although submitting homework of collegiate quality requires "extra" effort, it serves two important purposes directly related to learning.

The effort you expend in clearly explaining your work solidifies your learning. In particular, research has shown that writing and speaking trigger different areas of your brain. By writing something down - even when you think you already understand it - your learning is reinforced by involving other areas of your brain.
By making your work clear and self-contained (that is, making it a document that you can read without referring to the questions in the text), it will be a much more useful study guide when you review for a quiz or exam.

The following guidelines will help ensure that your assignments meet the standards of collegiate quality.

Always use proper grammar, proper sentence and paragraph structure, and proper spelling.
All answers and other writing should be fully self-contained. A good test is to imagine that a friend is reading your work, and asking yourself whether the friend would understand exactly what you are trying to say. It is also helpful to read your work out loud to yourself, making sure that it sounds clear and coherent.
In problems that require calculation:
Be sure to show your work clearly. By doing so, both you and your instructor can follow the process you used to obtain an answer.
Word problems should have word answers. That is, after you have completed any necessary calculations, any problem stated in words should be answered with one or more complete sentences that describe the point of the problem and the meaning of your solution.
Pay attention to details that will make your assignments look good. For example:
Use standard-sized white paper with clean edges (e.g., do not tear paper out of notebooks because it will have ragged edges).
Staple all pages together; don't use paper clips or folded corners because they tend to get caught with other students' papers.
Use a ruler to make straight lines in sketches or graphs.
Include illustrations whenever they help to explain your answer.
If you study with friends, be sure that you turn in your own work stated in your own words - it is important that you avoid any possible appearance of academic dishonesty.