Course Syllabus
Course Prefix, Number, Title & Credit Hours: MATH 492, Topics: Algebra for Teachers Syllabus, 1 credit hour
Dakota State
University
Academic
Term, Year: Fall 2009
Course
Meeting Time and Location: Time:
online lectures
Final Exam: arranged individually between December 14th
and December 18th
Instructors Contact Information:
Dr. Richard Avery
208b Lowry Hall
Telephone: 256-5188
E-mail: rich.avery@dsu.edu
Office Hours: I will respond to email every working day and I will respond on most weekends as well. Please send me an email (preferably through Desire2Learn email) and I will get back to you as soon as possible (expect 24 hour turn around during the week, no guarantees on the weekends). The hours listed below are the times I am scheduled to be in my office on the DSU campus and my phone number is listed above if you would like to call me during these times (you can call at any time, but I may not be in the office – email is usually the best way to contact me).
Monday: 10:00-11:50
Office Hours: Tuesday: 9:00-11:50
Wednesday: 10:00-11:50
Thursday: 9:00-11:50
Additional office hours by Discovery or Appointment.
Course Description: Advanced topics of special interest in mathematics. (2009-2010 DSU Catalog)
Additional Course Description: Use of The Geometer’s Sketchpad to present mathematics content, focus on algebraic techniques including calculus and trigonometry content, at the secondary level.
Course
Prerequisites:
Prerequisites: Consent of the Instructor.
Technology Skills: The Geometer’s Sketchpad will be used in every lesson and on every assignment for the course. Instruction will be provided for all techniques employed in the lecture. Students will need to use Geometer Sketchpad on the Citrix Server, view online lectures and open pdf files with detailed instructions on creating sketches.
Description of Instructional Methods and Course Delivery: Students learn mathematics by doing mathematics. Lessons and assignments are developed to engage students and facilitate learning. (ACTIVE LEARNING) This is a competency based course with sketches completed using The Geometer’s Sketchpad. Lectures will demonstrate the techniques required to complete sketches as well as any mathematical content required.
Course
Requirements:
Required Textbook(s) and Other Materials: No textbook is required, The Geometer’s Sketchpad is available on the Citrix server (www.citrix.dsu.edu).
Selected Bibliography: The Geometer's Sketchpad Learning Guide (ISBN: 1-55953-530-X). Under Reserve in the Mundt library (DSU library).
Homework Completion
Policy: Students can turn in any of
the homework sketches at any time during the semester (only one will be
assigned each week).
ADA Statement: If you have a documented disability and/or anticipate needing accommodations (e.g., non-standard note taking, test modifications) in this course, please arrange to meet with the instructor. Also, please contact Dakota State University’s ADA coordinator, Keith Bundy, in the Student Development Office located in the Trojan Center Underground or at 256-5121, as soon as possible. The DSU website containing additional information, along with the form to request accommodations is http://www.departments.dsu.edu/disability_services/. You will need to provide documentation of your disability. The ADA coordinator must confirm the need for accommodations before officially authorizing them.
Academic Honesty Policy: Cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty run contrary to the purpose of higher education and will not be tolerated in this course. All forms of academic dishonesty will result in no credit for the assignment. Please be advised that, when the instructor suspects plagiarism, the Internet and other standard means of plagiarism detection will be used to resolve the instructor’s concerns. DSU’s policy on academic integrity (DSU Policy 03-22-00) is available online.
Freedom in Learning Statement: Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. It has always been the policy of Dakota State University to allow students to appeal the decisions of faculty, administrative, and staff members and the decisions of institutional committees. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.
University Policy Regarding the Use of Tablets in the Classroom: The Tablet PC platform has been adopted across the DSU campus for all students and faculty, and tablet usage has been integrated into all DSU classes to enhance the learning environment. Tablet usage for course-related activities, note taking, and research is allowed and encouraged by DSU instructors. However, inappropriate and distracting use will not be tolerated in the classroom. Instructors set policy for individual classes and are responsible for informing students of class-specific expectations relative to Tablet PC usage. Failure to follow the instructor’s guidelines will hinder academic performance and may lead to disciplinary actions. Continued abuse may lead to increased tablet restrictions for the entire class.
Because tablet technology is an integral part of this course, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his/her Tablet PC is operational prior to the beginning of each class period.
Make-up Policy: Sketches can be submitted at any time up to
the last day of Finals week. No sketches
will be accepted after finals week.
The Professor
reserves the right to modify this course syllabus to better meet student needs.
University Deadlines:
Add/Drop Deadline (Census Day): September 10th is the last day to add this course or drop this course and receive 100% refund.
Withdraw Deadline: November 16th is the last day to withdraw from this course and receive a grade of “W”.
DSU Student Information and Help
Links:
Student Handbook: http://www.departments.dsu.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/
DSU Catalogs: http://www.departments.dsu.edu/registrar/catalog/
DSU Student Resources Center: http://www.support.dsu.edu/
Class attendance Policy: Students are expected to watch the video lessons (students are required to duplicate sketches and submit them as part of the weeks assignment) and complete the assigned homework activities. In a virtual setting, watching the videos is the “class attendance” activity.
Course
Goals: Students will learn how to
use the Geometer Sketchpad with a focus on algebraic principles.
Evaluation Procedures: Course average will be calculated on the following percentages:
Presentation 25%
Homework 75%
Total 100%
then the following grade scale is applied:
A 90%-100%
B 80%-89%
C 70%-79%
D 60%-69%
F < 60%
Students near a cutoff may receive the higher grade at the discretion of the instructor.
COURSE OUTLINE
On the first video lesson we will demonstrate the tools of the Geometer Sketchpad and follow with a series of graphs. Each week that follows we will discuss a new algebraic principle using the Geometer’s Sketchpad.