Research Presentation: Mathematical Breakthroughs 15%
No make-ups allowed * and participation in the research
presentations is
mandatory to pass the class.
*
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.
The grading scale is: A ≥93; 90≤ A- < 93;
87 ≤ B+ <90...
Also see the
University-wide
syllabus and policy statements which we adhere to.
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 class then allowed as above.
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. You should expect to put in the necessary time outside of
class
in order to complete homework and assignments on time.
Course Goals
You'll receive full general education quantitative literacy credit
while developing a liberal arts appreciation of mathematics.
It includes an interdisciplinary and thematically linked format
and a focus on local to global connections as you develop
creative inquiry skills, research techniques,
and communication skills, as we study:
Geometry of
our Earth and Universe
How we view the world around us and what it actually looks like.
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.
What is Mathematics?
To reflect more broadly about the course themes
(what mathematics is, what it has to offer, why it is useful, and the diverse
ways that people succeed in it) as we tie the segments together.
You'll also become a mathematician with a topic you are interested in as
your field of study. You will communicate your expertise in a
research session that is modeled after poster presentations at science
fairs and research day at Appalachian.
Other Policies
Do plenty of exercises until you are comfortable with the material -
more than those that are assigned, if needed.
As per the
University-wide
Statement on Student Engagement with Courses
you can expect to spend (on average) 2-3 hours
outside of class for each hour in class.
As a general rule of thumb, on average, you can expect to spend
that time outside of class
reviewing material and class notes,
completing homework assignments, and
checking the main web page and ASULearn 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, which defines:
Use of interactive technology is allowed only when it is related to our
class. Put cell phones away and set them to vibrate. Photos or
video or audio recordings may not be taken in class without prior
permission. Food and beverages are allowed as long as they aren't
distracting, but e-cigs, chewing tobacco/spit cups
and other products are not allowed.
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.
The purpose of homework is to learn and practice computational strategies, conc\
epts, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, so you should
try
problems and readings on your own. Feel free to talk to me or each other if
you are stuck on this assignment, but be sure to acknowledge any sources
including each other, like "The insight for this solution came from a
conversation w\
ith Joel." If you know how to do a problem and are asked for help, try to
give hints rather than the solution: Give a person a fish and you feed him
for a day. Teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime (or at least
this course)
I am always happy to help you in class, during office hours (or by
appointment), or on the ASULearn 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 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.