MAT 4040 Mathematics Capstone [Mondays at 1pm] Calendar - Fall 2014

The best way to contact me outside of class is during office hours or on the ASULearn Forum, as I usually check the posts daily, even on weekends.
  • Dr. Sarah's Office Hours this week
  • Dr. Thomley's Office Hours
  • Syllabus and Grading Policies
    Date     WORK DUE at the beginning of class unless otherwise noted!
    8 Dec
  • Our assigned meeting time during finals week is Mon Dec 8 beginning at 9AM and includes you turning in part 4 of the course project. We'll also do some reflective activities, including Liz Coleman discussion: clickers.
  • The final draft of the course paper is due. Any outstanding assignments are also due.
    • 1 Dec
  • Course project beamer presentations continue
    Nagchou, Stan and Tim
    • 24 Nov
  • Course project beamer presentations continue
    Callum, Josh and Huy
    • 17 Nov
  • Course project beamer presentations begin:
    Chris and Deniz
    Peer review Liz Coleman on general education [15:31]
    • 10 Nov
  • Homework Due: Appalachian General Education
  • During Class Discuss the course project paper and presentations rubric. Peer review for the presentations. Clicker questions. Liz Coleman on general education [15:31]
    • __________ ________________________________________________________________________
    __________ ________________________________________________________________________
    3 Nov
  • Homework Due: Mathematical Writing
    1. Read Guidelines for Good Mathematical Writing by Francis Edward Su.
    2. First draft of the course project paper is due. 7-10 page paper: Paper template LaTeX code and pdf version
    3. Bring your i-clicker to class
  • During Class
    Take questions or comments on the drafts and the guidelines for good writing.
    Go over the template for the beamer presentation
    Gened goals at Appalachian, Appalachian State University (Institutional Ad 2014) and hw for next week.
    • 27 Oct
  • Homework Due: Mathematics in a General Education
  • During Class: Go over the hw and template for the course paper and the rubric.
    clicker questions.
    Why make Liberal Arts Majors take Math in College?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvO1yAzQq9E [3:23]
    Clicker question
    A World With No Math
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0LS1qkRT-Q
    Discuss mathematics in a general education as well as goals for mathematics majors.
    • 20 Oct
  • Homework Due: Proof, Certainty, Success and Discoveries in Mathematics
  • During Class: Clicker questions and discussion of hw and presenting proof, certainty, success and discoveries in mathematics. Hand out cause/effect in SYNC.
    • 13 Oct
  • Homework Due: Part 2 of the course project [We don't need the code - just the LaTeX'ed PDFs]. See finding library and scholarly sources and LaTeX software.
    1. LaTeX code for Beamer Template and Figure 1 must be in the same directory to LaTeX. PDF version
    2. LaTeX code for Preliminary Bibliography, PDF version
    3. Continue working on the course project paper and write down any questions you have
  • During Class: How to Talk Mathematics by Paul Hamos, Notices of the AMS (v. 21, 1974, pp. 155-158). Begin certainty, proof, success and discoveries in mathematics, as well as communicating them to others. The Proof video mp4 and questions
    • 6 Oct
  • Research Day (No Class): Work on the course project---find relevant references for the bibliography and at least one image for the Beamer. See finding library and scholarly sources.
    • 29 Sep
  • Homework Due: Professional Associations and Ethics and Responsibilities of Community Membership
    1. There are 3 readings on ASULearn. As you read, list (to turn in-informal bullet points are fine) all the ethical issues you see.
      Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society: Professional Associations by Christopher J. Stapel
      Selections from Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society: Ethics by Michael Green
      Mathematics and Ethics, Hersh, R. The Mathematical Intelligencer, 1990 12(3), pp. 13-15.
    2. Next, for each of the readings, name at least one aspect from the reading that surprised you, that you found interesting, disagreed with, or had a question on (so you will have at least three items total - one from each reading. Like the first part, this can be hand written or typed, whatever you prefer).
    3. Research one of the professional associations mentioned in the articles and LaTeX some aspect you found interesting along with a bibliographic reference for the website of the organization and a publication by them. Print and turn in your LaTeX'ed document (LaTex it more than once to get the citations working). A LaTeX template: LaTeX code and the pdf version (LaTeX software.)
    4. Bring your i-clicker to class.
  • During Class:
    Introduction to Beamer (LaTex code).
    Clicker questions #1 and #2
    Class discussion on professional associations, ethics and the responsibilities of community membership
    Clicker questions #3 and #4
    Ethical Guidelines of the AMS
    "To correct in a timely way or to withdraw work that is erroneous."
    "The Society promotes mathematical research together with its unrestricted dissemination, and to that end encourages all to engage in this endeavor. Mathematical ability must be respected wherever it is found, without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religious belief, political belief, or disability."
    "Freedom to publish must sometimes yield to security concerns, but mathematicians should resist excessive secrecy demands whether by government or private institutions."
    Clicker questions #5 and #6
    Academic Integrity Code
    • 22 Sep
  • Homework Due: Part 1 of the course project (LaTeX template and LaTeX software.) You can print your code by copying and pasting into another program, like Word. Also print your LaTeX'ed document - ie the pdf. Begin finding library and scholarly sources for the project.

  • During Class: What makes good formal typed writing? Share the final project topic and any questions. What makes a good mathematics talk? Clicker questions. Review LaTeX software, including writeLaTeX and TexWorks, and introduce the LaTeX template and bibliographic code for next week's homework.
    Review finding library and scholarly sources.
    Introduction to LaTeX Bibliography
    Introduction to Beamer (LaTex code).
    • 15 Sep
  • Homework Due: Careers [Note the CareerFest on Sept 23]
    • Read Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society: Careers on ASULearn
      Type-up your responses to the following, which is due at the beginning of class (you should be prepared to discuss your responses, so you may want to print a second copy for yourself). You do NOT have to use LaTeX for this assignment.
      1. List any aspects from the reading that surprised you or that you disagreed with (and comment on your reactions)
      2. List any aspects from the reading that relate to your own life
      3. What are your plans for the first year after graduation from Appalachian?
      4. What are your longterm career plans (list any that you are thinking of)?
    • Test the latex template to be sure you can latex it and bring your i-clicker to class
  • During Class
    Clicker questions on the hw.
    Discuss homework, careers, career fair, career center at Appalachian, interviews.
    What advice would you give to a sophomore about planning for after graduation? What questions do you have about careers?
    http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/pubseri.cfm?seri_id=14
    http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf12328/pdf/tab41.pdf
    Discuss diverse career paths including my own.
    http://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/stem/stem-html/ mathematics majors
    STEM for global competitiveness
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlnLAOCZDWI to 0:53
    We Use Math Opportunity at 1:52-4:20 and then again at 5:58-6:35.
    • 8 Sep
  • Homework Due: Introduction to LaTeX
    1. Obtain the i-clicker and the class text LaTeX: A Document Preparation System - User's Guide and Reference Manual, by Leslie Lamport, Second Edition. Both are available in the bookstore.
    2. Google Dr. Sarah, get to this page, and read through the course project guidelines [you can ignore the sublinks for now].
    3. Read Dr. Bauldry's Brief Introduction to LaTeX
    4. Write down any questions you have on the above 2 readings.
    5. Begin thinking about a possible course project topic from previous research experiences, independent studies on advanced mathematics, foreign exchange program experiences, or an advanced mathematical topic from a 3000 or 4000 level class. I would be happy to discuss your interests in office hours to help you find a good topic.
  • During Class: Register the i-clicker. Take questions on the homework.
    Introduction to LaTeX slides and LaTeX code [will not LaTeX unless you comment out (%) the includegraphics commands]. Discuss the course project, including LaTeX software (open source) and LaTeX code for preliminary topic.
    • 1 Sep
  • Labor Day (No Class)
    • 25 Aug
  • First Day of Class: The art of equations activities which includes a discussion of the syllabus. LaTeX code. Review Cantor's diagonalization argument.