M302: Mathematical Modeling Throughout the Curriculum
Syllabus
Fall Semester, 2006-2007
Resources:
OnCourse CL:
Tools within Oncourse CL (https://oncourse.iu.edu/portal) will be used on regular basis to communicate class announcements, to answer students' questions, and to encourage peer discussions. Students will also use OnCourse CL group spaces and discussion forums to collaborate on their group projects. All students should become familiar with the use of OnCourse CL during the first week of classes. You may want to enroll in one of the OnCourse workshops to learn more about the available tools: http://ittraining.iu.edu/workshops/schedule_by_group.aspx?group=22
Attendance:
I expect you to attend each class. If you must miss class for a school function or religious celebration, let me know
at least two weeks in advance. See comments on attendance in the Assignments and Grading sections.
Grading:
This is a Pass/Fail course. You will pass if you miss no more than three classes, complete the your project hours and other assignments, and have a group project that meets the criteria listed above, by the end of the semester.
Assignments
You will be responsible for the production of a course web site that will be available to teachers across the state, country, and world. You will select a major algebraic theme (see next section for a list of possible themes) that cuts across the grades 7-12 curriculum, and you will join a group of four students to develop web-based projects centered on that theme. Each student will contribute 15 hours of work, outside of class, toward the web-based project. Your load will increase by 4 hours for every class that you miss. Contributions may include (but are not limited to):
- Challenging and interesting lesson tasks or problems that you have created.
- Annotated synthesis of web resources related to your theme.
- Analysis and evaluation of teaching ideas from books and journals like Beyond Numeracy, The Mathematics Teacher, Teaching Mathematics in the Middle School, or The College Journal of Mathematics.
- Mathematical computer applications, using graphing calculators or software, such as GSP or Excel.
- Java scripts, graphs, tables or other representations of data and mathematical concepts.
- Audio or video productions relevant to your group’s theme.
You will arrange your plans for contributions with me ahead of time, by meeting with me as a group, so that we can determine the number of hours your individual pieces will require. I may ask you to revise or rewrite pieces that need more work or contain mistakes (typographical, grammatical or mathematical). Try to spread the work evenly over the semester. Your first draft for all pieces must be turned in by ___. Only revisions will be accepted after that date.
Your group’s project should be closely aligned with Indiana curriculum and state standards (http://www.indianastandardsresources.org/).
You will need to meet with your group at least every other week to design plans and share progress toward your group, web-based project. You will need to communicate more regularly by email, through OnCourse discussion forums and group spaces. During the last two weeks of classes, your group will present its project in class.
Other course assignments will include completing short readings relevant to class discussions, completing modeling tasks, and continuing class discussions in OnCourse discussion forums outside of class.
Modeling Themes
The following are a list of themes from which your group can choose for the web-based project. Keep in mind that each theme should be developed with vertical connections between grades 7 and 12.
- Linear models that describe phenomenon
- Nonlinear models that describe phenomenon
- Models involving simulation and/or prediction
- Models used for optimization
- Models used for control
- Models for understanding behavior and social phenomenon
- Models that connect mathematics and social studies
- Models that connect mathematics and physical sciences
- Models that connect mathematics and life sciences
- Models that connect mathematics and the arts
Criteria for Acceptable Projects
All acceptable group projects must meet the following criteria by the end of the semester:
- Group projects will align with all course goals and several learning objectives as listed on the first page of the syllabus.
- The projects will include a page articulating the vertical connections made across grades 7-12 (A template for this page will be provided to you).
- All relevant connections to the NCTM and Indiana standards will be made explicit within the various components of the group project.
- The various components of the group project will be integrated so that they offer a consistent and coherent presentation of the theme.
- Group projects will incorporate a variety of resources that will be useful and attractive to math teachers across the state of Indiana.
- The final draft will be free of all grammatical and mathematical mistakes.