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

  • Dr. Sarah's Office Hours The best way to contact Dr. Sarah outside of class and office hours is an ASULearn forum message.
  • Dr. Marland's Office Hours
  • Syllabus and Grading Policies
    Date     WORK DUE at the beginning of class unless otherwise noted!
    9 May
  • Our assigned meeting time during finals week is Friday, May 9, 2013 from 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM and includes the conclusion of the beamer presentations [Kyle], part 4 of the course project - the final draft of the paper as well as reflective activities.
    • __________ ________________________________________________________________________
    __________ ________________________________________________________________________
    28 Apr
  • Course project beamer presentations continue: Ellen, Ian, Jenny
    • 14 Apr
  • Course project beamer presentations continue: Alison, Megan, Meredith, Sydney
    • 7 Apr
  • Course project beamer presentations begin: Katie, Holly, Steve, Amanda
    • 31 Mar
  • Homework Due:
    1. Appalachian General Education
    2. Continue working on the course project.
    3. Bring your i-clicker to class
  • During Class: Discuss the course project paper and presentations. Peer review for the presentations.
    Clicker questions. Discuss homework responses and general education
    • 24 Mar
  • 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: rubric, paper template LaTex code and pdf version
  • During Class: Take questions or comments on the drafts and the guidelines for good writing article. Ask for volunteers for Apr 7, 14 and 28 [4 people each]. Discuss the Appalachian General Education assignment. Discuss Mathematics Awareness Month http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbwOW2orwno and http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/suw63r/arthur-benjamin Go over the template for the beamer presentation .
    • 17 Mar
  • Homework Due: Mathematics in a General Education
    1. First read Mathematics in a General Education on ASULearn.
    2. Write down (to turn in) aspects that surprised you, that you disagreed with, or that relate to your own life and also prepare to discuss this short reading during class.
    3. Next complete the ASULearn questionnaire Educational Goal for Mathematics Majors that assesses a Program Objective: Students should possess an understanding of the breath of the mathematical sciences via an understanding and appreciation of connections between different areas and with other disciplines. Note: You may use outside sources, but your responses must be in your own words on the ASULearn link.
    4. Work on the course project paper - the first draft is due next week.
    5. Bring your i-clicker to class
  • During Class: Go over the template for the course paper and the rubric. Finish up discussions from last week - review questions from The Proof. clicker questions. Discuss mathematics in a general education as well as goals for mathematics majors.
    • 3 Mar
  • Homework Due: Presenting Proof, Certainty, Success and Discoveries in Mathematics.
    1. Watch the SYNC TED video and then name at least two strengths and/or weaknesses of how Strogatz presented mathematics there, especially in reference to Paul Hamos' ideas of " How to talk mathematics."
    2. Next read on ASULearn:
      The View from Here: The Edge of My Seat by Katherine Merow. Math Horizons Volume 18, No. 3, February 2011, p. 12-14.
      Chapter 1 of SYNC: The Emerging Science of Spontaneous Order by Steven Strogatz. New York: Hyperion, 2003.
    3. The Beauty of Bounded Gaps by Jordan Ellenberg. Math Horizons, Volume 21, No. 1, September 2013, pp. 5-7.
      To turn in:
    4. For each of the 2 readings, name at least two aspects from the reading that surprised you, that you found interesting, disagreed with, or had a question on (so you will have at least four total - two from each reading).
    5. Research the web for the credentials of the author of SYNC and summarize what you found.
    6. What cause/effect [if/then] relationships were stated or implied in the SYNC chapter? Try to write down as many as you can. These may be as bullet points. For example: Human pacemaker cells control the heart...
    7. If you did not already turn in the questions related to the The Proof video, then finish them up to turn in.
    8. Bring your i-clicker to class
  • During Class: Clicker questions and discussion of hw and presenting proof, certainty, success and discoveries in mathematics.
    Hand out cause/effect in SYNC and rubric for the capstone project
    • 24 Feb
  • 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.
    1. LaTex code for Beamer Template, PDF version
    2. LaTex code for Preliminary Bibliography, PDF version
  • 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
    • 17 Feb
  • Homework Due: Professional Associations and Ethics and Responsibilities of Community Membership
    1. First read on ASULearn:
      Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society: Professional Associations
      Mathematics and Ethics, Hersh, R. The Mathematical Intelligencer, 1990 12(3), pp. 13-15.
      To Turn in:
    2. Briefly summarize/list ALL the ethical issues mentioned (directly or indirectly) in the 2 readings
    3. For each of the readings, name at least two aspects from the reading that surprised you, that you found interesting, disagreed with, or had a question on (so you will have at least four items total - two from each reading).
    4. 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.
    5. Bring your i-clicker to class.
  • During Class:
    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
    • 10 Feb
  • Homework Due: Part 1 of the course project (LaTeX template.) You can print your code by copying and pasting into another program, like Word. Also print your LaTeX'ed document - ie the pdf.
  • During Class: Discuss the LaTeX template and bibliographic code for next week's homework
    Discuss library and scholarly sources.
    What makes a good mathematics talk?
    Introduction to Beamer LaTex code and the pdf version
    • 3 Feb
  • Homework Due: Careers
    1. Print a copy of the Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society: Careers reading on ASULearn. Highlight or circle all the careers that were mentioned.
      Type-up your responses to the following (#2-#4):
    2. What cause/effect [if/then] relationships were implied by the author as being related to mathematics. Try to find them all (and be prepared to discuss whether you agree or disagree with them). For example: If we study mathematics then we...
      prepare for numerous careers
      develop analytical skills...
    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).
    5. Test the latex template under next week's due date to be sure you can latex it.
    6. Bring your i-clicker to class.
  • During Class 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?
    Clicker questions on the hw.
    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.
    • Jan
  • Homework Due: Introduction to LaTeX
    1. Bring to class 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] and begin thinking about a 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
    3. Read Dr. Bauldry's Brief Introduction to LaTeX
  • During Class: Discuss the final project, including the LaTeX code for preliminary topic.
    Introduction to LaTeX slides and LaTeX code [will not LaTeX unless you comment out (%) the includegraphics commands]. Where to obtain the (open source) software.
    • 13 Jan
  • First Day of Class: The art of equations activities which includes a discussion of the syllabus. LaTeX code. Review Cantor's diagonalization argument.