Reasoning about Change, Measurement, Chance, and Data for Teaching
Revised: September, 2019 (Axelle Faughn)
Course Description
A study of mathematical topics including algebra, measurement, probability, and statistics
necessary for teaching elementary and middle grades students. Three semester hours.
Prerequisite: Math 221
Student Learning Goals and Objectives
MATH 321 is a C2 (Mathematics) Liberal Studies Course. The learning goals for C2 Courses
are that:
- Students will be introduced to applications of mathematics in daily experience.
- Student learning will be focused on the development of conceptual understanding rather
than computational drill.
- Students will complete a project requiring a mathematical analysis of observations,
such that a significant portion of the student project will be statistically based.
Student Learning Objectives Specific to Math 321
- Become acquainted with ideas and principles of mathematics.
- Understand the contributions of mathematics to man's social, economic, philosophic,
and artistic heritage.
- Learn to use words, symbols, and techniques of mathematics with precision so as to
communicate concepts and ideas correctly and clearly.
- Experience the satisfaction of mathematical discovery, which stimulates curiosity,
initiative, confidence, and interest in mathematics.
- Develop understanding and appreciation of the structure of the number system, elementary
number theory, and the use of algebra and geometry.
- Develop patterns of reasoning which enable one to investigate unfamiliar situations.
- Develop an ability to organize mathematical experiences as a means of discovery rather
than presentations of a fixed set of facts and procedures.
Text
Sowder, J., Sowder, L, and Nickerson, S. Reconceptualizing Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers, Third Edition, W.H. Freeman & Co.
Grading Procedure
Grading procedures and factors influencing course grade are left to the discretion
of individual instructors, subject to general university policy.
Attendance Policy
Attendance policy is left to the discretion of individual instructors, subject to
general university policy.
Course Outline
- Algebra
- Chapter 12: What is Algebra? (6 days)
Sections 1-7: Symbolic Language; Generalized arithmetic; Numerical patterns; Functions;
Reasoning.
- Chapter 13: A Quantitative Approach to Algebra and Graphing (3 days)
Sections 1-3: Graphing; Understanding slope; Linear functions.
- Measurement
- Chapter 23: Measurement Basics (3 days)
Sections 1-4: Units; measurement of lengths; measurement of angles.
- Chapter 24: Area, Surface Area, Volume (3 days)
Section 1-4: Area; Surface area; Volume.
- Chapter 25: Measurement Formulas (3 days)
Formula for circumference, area, surface area, and volume.
- Probability and Statistics
- Chapter 27: Quantifying Uncertainty (5 days)
Sections 1-5: Chance events; Assigning Probabilities; Simulating Probabilistic Situations;
Large scale tests.
- Chapter 28: Determining more complicated Probabilities (3 days)
Sections 1-3: Tree Diagrams and lists; Or statements; And statements.
- Chapter 29: Introduction to Statistics and Sampling (6 days)
Sections 1-7: What are statistics?; sampling; simulating random sampling; types of
data, surveys
- Chapter 30: Representing and Interpreting Data with One Variable (8 days)
Sections 1-8: Categorical data; Measurement data; Spread of data; Measures of Center;
Deviations from the Mean; Examining distributions.
- Chapter 31: Dealing with Multiple Data Sets or with Multiple Variables (3 days)
Sections 1-4: Comparing data sets; Lines of best fit; Correlation; Multiple variables.