This class is designed to be a cooperative venture in learning mathematics.
You will do most of your work in teams of three and will be responsible
for promoting the learning of your teammates as well as the rest of your
classmates. This class will meet every day from 8:30-10:00 and 1:00-2:30
or 3:00. Most morning meetings will be instructor presentations on
course material. Afternoons we will have labs, student presentations, movies,
or problem sessions, or, about once a week, additional lectures. When Problem
Sessions are scheduled, half the class meets at 10:40, the other half at
1:00, or sometimes at 8:30. Problem sessions are not times for the
instructor to answer students' questions; rather they are times for students
to present questions, insights, or problem solutions to other members of
the class. The instructor will answer questions during office hours.
Student Responsibilities
Each student will be expected to be a fully contributing member of a three-person
team. Team responsibilities include:
Written problem solutions: Each team will submit jointly written word-processed
and double spaced! solutions to one or more problems per day. Team members
should take turns writing up the solutions and your paper should indicate
who did the write-up. Ordinarily, solutions are due by 3:00 p.m. the day after
they are assigned.
Problem session participation: Each team will also be responsible
for outlining solutions to most other problems in the text and will be asked
to lead discussions on some of these problems during problem sessions.
Computer and other labs: Teams will also submit joint write-ups of
labs using Geometer's Sketchpad or Cabri software and hands-on
materials. Computer labs must be submitted to the instructor electronically.
Each group will prepare and give a 45 minute presentation on one
of the topics described on the Student Presentations information sheet.
Your group should sign up on the afternoon of January 6, indicating preferences
for a presentation topic. Your group must meet with me on January 7 for
a presentation conference and again two or three days prior to your presentation
to review your plans.
Tests and Grading
There will be two take-home examinations on the mathematical content and
a final short essay exam on student presentations and on general concepts.
All tests must be done individually and will account for 60% of your grade
(50% for the take-homes, 10% for the final exam). Each student group will
be assigned a grade based on their presentation, problem session participation
and written problem and lab solutions. This grade will comprise 40% of your
individual grade (20% for the presentation, 20% for other group endeavors.)
