Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2017 - EDUC 211 D100

Mathematical Experience I: Numbers and Beyond (3)

Class Number: 6029

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 8 – Aug 4, 2017: Thu, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Surrey

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 16, 2017
    Wed, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    Students who have credit for MATH 151, MATH 154, MATH 157 need special permission to participate in EDUC 211 and EDUC 212.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

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

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores a variety of mathematical topics in order to increase the mathematical literacy of Liberal Arts students in general, and to increase their capabilities for quantitative reasoning and deductive argumentation in particular. Our focus is on the issues of aesthetics and utility of mathematical experience, emphasizing 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 mathematical content chosen for these courses 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 numeracy.

Possible topics: 

  • Fibonacci Numbers and Patterns of Nature  
  • Pascals Triangle Focus on Integers: Divisibility, casting out nines, prime numbers as building blocks  
  • Modular (clock) arithmetic  
  • Beyond integers: rational and irrational  
  • Exploring the infinite  
  • Mathematics of chance topics in probability  
  • Navigating through data topics in statistics

Grading

  • Active participation (mandatory) 0%
  • Problem Solving Journal 30%
  • Collaborative Project 20%
  • Midterm Exam 20%
  • Final Exam 30%

NOTES:

Students in all Faculty of Education courses are encouraged to review policies pertaining to academic integrity available on the Undergraduate Programs website: http://www.educ.sfu.ca/ugradprogs/student_resources/index.html

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

The Heart of Mathematics, An invitation to effective thinking, 4th Edition, by Burger and Starbird. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

NOTE:  Previous editions of the text can also be used.
ISBN: 978-1-118-15659-9

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS