FALL 2002

 

SU DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

 SYLLABUS (Tentative)

MATH 565:  Modeling for Middle-school Teachers

 

Background:

This course is designed to help teachers discover and express mathematical relationships found in the world and see connections between mathematics and other areas.   This course meets as a series of 5 all day workshops and 2 half day workshops.   

Objectives:
  • To become adept in using some technological tools such as calculators, computers, microcomputer- and calculator-based laboratories (MBL's and CBL's),
  • To develop a variety of problem-solving strategies,
  • To gain success in solving non-routine problems, and
  • To become skillful in explaining and justifying your reasoning

The class will focus on content as well as teaching techniques that are aligned with NCTM recommendations.

 

Intended Audience:

Pre-service and in-service elementary and middle school teachers wishing to strengthen their mathematical background.

 

Prerequisite:

Approval of the department.

 

Text: 

Cathcart, D.C. and Horseman, T.O., "Mathematical Models and Modeling for Middle School Teachers," Maryland Collaborative for Teacher Preparation (MCTP), College Park, MD, 1995.

Technology:

Excel, Stella, Graphing Calculator, MBL and CBL

 

 

Hours

Day 1, AM        Introduction & Housekeeping Details

                        Pendulum Activity – Modeling Process (Activity #10 in Text)                                                Activity #1 & Activity #2                                                                                      Revisit Pendulum Data

            Handshakes Problem (Activity #7) –  (Difference & Functional Equations)

 

3

Day 1, PM        Some Types of  Change – Examples                                                                                 Activity #3 in Text

(1st & 2nd differences; ave. rate of change, % change)

Surface Areas of Colored Rods – Activity #6  (line)

Hooke’s Law (constant ave rate of change)

Peg Game                                                                                              Towers of Hanoi (Activity #8)

Difference Equations & Functional Equations 

 

3

Day 2, AM        Building Bridges – Breaking Points                                                           

                        Calculators & Spreadsheets

                        Curve Fitting – Better Fit Criteria                                                             

                        Exercise #13 in Text

                        Newton’s Law of Cooling (Modeling Activity #7)

 

3

Day 3, AM        Stella Model for Newton’s Law of Cooling (Modeling Activity #9 in text)                                Geometry of Global Positioning Systems

                        Bouncing Ball (Modeling Activity #5 in text)                                                                       Distance & Veloctity

 

3

Day 3, PM        Ranking Athletic Teams

                        Chicken Pecking Problem                                                                                                 Light Intensity (Modeling Activity #9 in text)                                        

 

3

 

 

Day 4, AM        Monte Carlo - Random Numbers & Area                                                                                 Trinkets Problem (Modeling Activity #2 in text)                                                                  Simulation

 

         3

Day 4, PM        Epidemics or Rumors                                                                             

                        Simulation                                                                                            

                        Stella Model for Rumor or Epidemic

                       

 

3

Day 5, AM        Predator-Prey                                                                                       

                        Stella Model for Predator-Prey                                                                

 

3

Day 5, PM        Discussion/Planning of final projects and portfolios

 

3

Day 6, AM        Project Presentations     

 

4

Day 7, AM        Project Presentations                                         

4

 

EVALUATION

Attendence/Participation

25%

Portfolio

50%

Project/Presentation

25%

Writing Across the Curriculum:

Writing is a tool used throughout mathematics and its applications for learning and communicating. A significant portion of the grade you earn for each assignment will be your ability to communicate mathematics effectively in written form. In addition, students will write narratives to communicate the mathematics they learn in daily e-mail journals to the instructor. We will also discuss and implement "Writing to Learn" throughout the course.