North Georgia College & State University

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

Course Syllabus

Summer 2008

 

General Information

 

Course Number:   MATH 6110

Course Title:        Informal Geometry

Class Times:         8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  (5:00 p.m. on first day)

 

Instructor:            Dr. Dianna Spence

E-Mail:       djspence@ngcsu.edu

Phone:        (706) 864-1808

 

Office Hours:        4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (at Pioneer RESA) on all days that class meets

 

Text/Materials:    MATH 6110 Resource Pack (purchase from instructor)

 

Policies and Expectations

 

Evaluation and Grading:

                        Student performance will be evaluated through the use of class activities and assignments, homework, daily quizzes, a work portfolio, and a final exam.  The final grade will be computed as follows.

                        *Attendance and Participation                10%                             *Items marked with asterisk are categorized as “daily work

                        *Daily Quizzes                                      15%

*Classwork/Homework Samples            15%

                        Independent Work Portfolio                   30%

                        Final Exam                                            30%

 

                        Letter grades are assigned according to the following scale.  For PLU credit, an average of 60% or higher is considered passing.

                        A         90 – 100%

                        B          80 – 89%

                        C          70 – 79%

                        D         60 – 69%

                        F          59% and below

 

Attendance:    Attendance is expected at all class sessions.  Students are expected to arrive on time and stay until class is dismissed.  Missing any part of class will impair your ability to complete assignments satisfactorily and thereby puts you at risk of failing the course.

You are responsible for all material covered, all announcements made, and all assignments given, whether or not you are present.  Keeping up with these items is your responsibility.

Missed work:  Missed daily work cannot be made up and will be assigned a grade of zero.  Daily work is due when announced and is not accepted late. The lowest quiz score and the lowest classwork/homework score will be dropped to accommodate any extenuating circumstances that require you to miss daily work.  Project extensions and rescheduling of exams are rare, but will be handled at the instructor’s discretion in cases of extreme need.

 

Academic Integrity:

                        All work submitted for credit is expected to be your own. 

 

 

Course Content and Resources

 

Description:    This course is designed for K-8 pre-service teachers and focuses on topics such as plane figures, polygons and tessellations, space figures, symmetric figures, systems of measurement, area and perimeter, volume and surface area, and congruence and similarity mappings. This course may not be used to fulfill the academic concentration requirement for graduate secondary mathematics education students.

 

Prerequisite: Grade of C or above in MATH 6100/2008

 

Course Content:        

§         Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

§         Angles, Triangles, Polygons, and Circles

§         Visualization and Spatial Reasoning

§         Constructions, Congruence, Similarity

§         Pythagorean Relationships

§         Measurement

§         Three-dimensional Figures

§         Motion Geometry and Tessellations

 

Manipulatives and Technology:

Using manipulatives and technology as tools for learning and doing mathematics are important components of this course. Tools include pattern blocks, tangrams, geoboards, snap cubes, attribute blocks, Miras, protractors, compasses, rulers, patty paper, TI-73 Explorer, and The Geometer’s Sketchpad (GSP) software. GSP is available on a limited basis in the RESA computer lab; for NGCSU students, it is also available in computer labs throughout the NGCSU campus; you may also wish to consider purchasing the student edition of GSP for $39.95 at www.keymath.com/store/software/gsp.html. 

 

Instructional Methods:

This course will develop a mathematical and pedagogical knowledge base that fosters the development of the practicing teacher as a facilitator, decision maker, and leader through the use of a variety of:

·         instructional strategies and methods including lecture, guided discussion, modeling, simulations, cooperative and collaborative learning groups, student presentations, and hands-on activities that actively engage students in the learning process; and

·         instructional materials, assessment techniques, and scoring rubrics that reflect the spirit of the NCTM Principles and Standards (2000) and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (1998); diverse learning styles; multiple intelligences; and multicultural components

 

Course Objectives:    

Students will be able to:

1)      apply standard notation and terminology related to points, lines, planes, segments, rays, lines, angles, polygons, curves, two-dimensional transformations, and coordinate geometry;

2)      identify and apply characteristics and properties of symmetry, geometric figures in the plane, transformations in the plane, and coordinate geometry;

3)      build and manipulate representations of two- and three- dimensional objects and visualize objects from different perspectives;

4)      specify locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems;

5)      apply properties of customary, metric, and non-standard measurement systems to solve problems involving one-, two-, and three-dimensional objects;

6)      perform constructions using tools such as compass, straightedge, Mira, paper folding, and dynamic geometry software;

7)      use concrete models, drawings, and dynamic geometric software to explore geometric ideas and their applications in real-world contexts;

8)      apply transformations and use symmetry, similarity, and congruence to analyze mathematical situations;

9)      select and use a variety of tools, models, technologies, strategies, and methods for investigating geometry concepts appropriate for use in the elementary and middle grades;

10)   demonstrate the ability to develop mathematical arguments relating arithmetic and geometric properties;

11)   select, use, and determine the suitability of the wide variety of available mathematics curricula and teaching materials;

12)   recognize the role of national, state, and local level mathematics standards and legislation in developing local curriculum and planning instruction that addresses the needs of diverse student populations; and

13)   identify professional mathematics organizations and describe their contributions to the teaching of mathematics and the professional development of teachers.

 

Bibliography and Supplementary Materials:

  • Navigating through Geometry Grades PreKindergarten-2 (with CD-ROM) - NCTM, 2001.  ISBN Number: 0-87353-511-1
  • Navigating through Geometry Grades 3-5 (with CD-ROM) - NCTM, 2001.  ISBN Number: 0-87353-512-X
  • Navigating through Geometry Grades 6-8 (with CD-ROM) - NCTM, 2002.  ISBN Number: 0-87353-513-8
  • Geometry Activities for Middle School Students with The Geometer’s Sketchpad (Key Curriculum Press, 1998)
  • Exploring Geometry with The Geometer’s Sketchpad (Key Curriculum Press, 1999)
  • Geometry Labs Activities for Grades 8-11 (Key Curriculum Press, 1999)
  • Mathematics Activities for Elementary School Teachers: A Problem-Solving Approach (Addison-Wesley, 2000)
  • Mathematics Activities for Teaching (Wheeler and Barnard, Kendall-Hunt Publishers, 2000)
  • Teaching Children Mathematics (NCTM)
  • Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School (NCTM)
  • Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM, 2000)
  • Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM)
  • Assessment Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM)
  • Addenda Series Grades K-6 (NCTM)
  • Addenda Series Grades 5-8 (NCTM)
  • Addenda Series Grades 9-12 (NCTM)

 

World Wide Web Resources:

·         Project Interactivate - http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/

·         National Library of Virtual Manipulatives - http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

·         Math Archives - http://archives.math.utk.edu 

·         The Math Forum - http://mathforum.org/

·         Wolfram MathWorld - http://mathworld.wolfram.com/

·         Math Cove (Transformations) - http://oneweb.utc.edu/~Christopher-Mawata/

·         Intermath - http://intermath.coe.uga.edu/

·         Teaching Pre-K-8 Idea Site - http://www.teachingk-8.com

·         Mega Mathematics - http://www.c3.lanl.gov/mega-math/welcome.html

·         The Geometry Center - http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/  

·         Fun Brain - http://www.funbrain.com/

·         Education Place Brain Teasers - http://www.eduplace.com/math/brain/index.html

·         Texas Instruments - http://www.education.ti.com  

·         Key Curriculum Press - http://www.keypress.com/

·         National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - http://www.nctm.org

·         Georgia Learning Connections – http://www.glc.k12.ga.us  

·         Georgia Performance Standards for Mathematics - http://www.georgiastandards.org/math.aspx

 

 

Metacognitive Model & Teacher Education Program Competencies:       

The NGCSU Graduate Mathematics Education Program prepares teachers to assume within the school community the roles of Decision-Maker, Facilitator, and Leader as identified in the metacognitive model.  Twelve Teacher Education Program competencies reflecting the model are aligned to a specific role.  Overlap into more than one role and mathematics course may occur.  Current research and professional standards identify these competencies as important for effective teaching (NBPTS and ASCD Framework). 

 

Decision-Maker

Facilitator

Leader

Assessment

Individual Differences

Ethical Perspectives

Planning

Subject Matter Knowledge

Reflection/Metacognition

Problem Solver

Communication

Professional Leadership

Methods, Materials, Resources

Classroom Management

Research & Evaluation

 

 

Academic Disabilities:           

North Georgia College & State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and to the principle of individual rights and responsibilities. To that end, the policies and procedures of NGCSU reasonably ensure that a person with a disability is not, on the basis of that disability, denied full and equal access to and the enjoyment of academic programs and co-curricular activities or otherwise is subjected to discrimination in such programs and activities. The policies for access by individuals with disabilities at NGCSU are designed to ensure full compliance with all pertinent federal and state legislation, specifically to include Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Approval of reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.