Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Utility and aesthetics of mathematical experience is presented through the exploration of selected topics. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is intended for Liberal Arts students in general and provides opportunities for students to explore a variety of mathematical topics in order to increase their mathematical literacy and capabilities for quantitative reasoning and deductive argumentation in particular. The main focus is on the aesthetics of mathematics and utility of mathematical experience; highlighting the human experience in learning and doing mathematics. Though the course content comes from mathematics, the approach is a pedagogical one, which draws on the knowledge and practices from education rather than applying the lecture/tutorial format most commonly seen in undergraduate mathematics courses. Students will engage in problem solving, investigate conjectures, and develop connections among mathematical topics. The instructional activities are designed to emphasize students learning through explorations instead of teaching a specific mathematical content, thus the mathematical content chosen for this course is flexible and in other settings may be considered as "enrichment". However, in-depth exploration of these topics provides an engaging opportunity to revisit and strengthen more basic concepts that lie at the heart of geometry. Topics include:

Ø  Pythagorean Theorem
Ø  Symmetry and patterns
Ø  Transformations and Tiling
Ø  The Golden Ratio
Ø  Platonic Solids and Euler's Formula
Ø  Fractals
Ø  Art gallery problem
Ø  Taxicab geometry  

Note 1: You will be introduced to a new technological tool; therefore, you need to be open and adaptable to learning this new software since some of the course content will be delivered and assessed through the dynamic geometry software called: Geometer’s Sketchpad (GSP). As with any software, there will be a learning curve. You will be assigned to watch tutorial videos every week that walk you through the basic steps. You will receive some help during the class time and office hours, but as is the nature of learning any software, practice and self-learning is involved. Please email me if you would like to get a head start with GSP.    

Note 2: EDUC 212 is one of Quantitative and Breadth Science Courses for Arts Students. Students taking this course for Q-credit need to achieve a minimum of C-

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

You will need access to a dynamic geometry software programme. Options will be discussed in class. Since the computer lab in Discovery 2 building (open to students taking Education courses) is equipped with The Geometer's Sketchpad, you don’t need to get hold of a GSP license for your personal computer. However, if for any reason (including not being on campus frequently) you would like to work on assignments and tasks at home, you will need to purchase a license (a one-year student license costs around 10 dollars). Instructions will be provided on first class meeting.

REQUIRED READING: