Fall 2009 Math 1030 (003) (Elementary Foundations of Mathematics I) Syllabus

Office Hours: Tue 8:30-9; Wed 11:15-12:13; Thurs 10:10-11:08, 1:30-2. Also by appointment.

Math Dept. Statement on Furloughs:This year the CSU is suffering the most severe budget cuts in the history of the University. Our Administration is attempting to manage these cuts by increasing student fees and requiring employees (faculty, staff, etc.) to take unpaid furlough days. The CSU Stanislaus Campus Furlough Days can be found at http://www.csustan.edu/Budget/furloughs.html, these are non-instructional furlough days NOT faculty furlough days. Each faculty member is required to take 8 furlough days during the Fall semester, 2 during Winter, and 8 during Spring. Faculty are to determine their own furlough days. Each instructor will inform the class of his/her furlough days at the beginning of the semester. It is very likely that not all of your classes will have the same furlough days. A furlough day is by definition a temporary leave of absence without pay, that is, a day during which faculty are not allowed to work.

Dr. Coughlin's Furlough Days: September 4, October 1, 14; November 23, 24, 25; December 17, 23

Warning: I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus at any time during the term by announcing them in class and on my web page.

Prerequisites: Math 0106, or 0110, or a passing score on the ELM examination, or equivalent.

General Education: This course satisfies General Education area B3.

TEXT: Mathematics For Elementary Teachers, Eighth Edition by G.L. Musser, W.F. Burger, and B.E. Peterson.

Student Learning Objectives: We will cover most of chapters 1 - 9. Students will:

• Develop a variety of problem-solving skills.
• Introduce different number systems used throughout history.
• Develop and discuss properties of present-day number systems, including: whole numbers, integers, fractions, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and decimals.
• Explore different representations and algorithms of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in base 10 and other number bases; and examine/explain why these methods work.
• Introduce basic ideas of number theory, including prime/composite numbers, divisibility tests, greatest common factor, and least common multiple.
• Examine the process of learning math from the perspective of an elementary school student.
• Explore the national and California state content standards of teaching mathematics.

Grades:

This class will be graded using plus/minus grading. Your total course percentage will be translated to a letter grade as follows: 90-100%: A- or above, 80-89%: B- or above, 70-79%: C- or above. The course grade is based on:

Homework:	15%		Due Tuesdays
Quizzes:	12%		Thursdays
Low Exam:	15%		Ex.1: Thurs. Oct. 8
High Exam:	17%		Ex.2: Thurs. Nov. 19
Article Critique:	10%		Thurs. Nov. 5
Final exam:	31%		Tuesday, Dec. 15 11:15am

 

Homework:

Assignments are given in class and will be available on the class web page. You are expected to complete all problems and understand the concepts behind them. You should consider the problems I assign as the bare minimum. I strongly recommend you do additional problems. The assignments are due, stapled, at the beginning of class every Tuesday. Late homework will not be accepted. See the Homework Guidelines Sheet for further restrictions. I will NOT answer homework questions on Tuesday for the assignment being turned in. Each assignment is worth 100pts: 30-50 for completeness/adherence to the guidelines, and 70-50pts for accuracy on selected problems. The lowest homework score will be dropped.

Quizzes/Exams:

Quizzes will be given during the first 15 minutes of class every Thursday, except for the days of an exam. The lowest quiz score will be dropped.

There will be 2 in-class exams tentatively scheduled below. Other information about the exams will be announced in class. The final exam will be cumulative.

 

Exam 1:

Thursday, October 8

Exam 2:

Thursday, November 19

Final:

Tuesday, December 15, 11:15am - 1:15pm

Article Critique:

You will be required to pick an article from a preselected list of journals which relates to a topic from the course (choices will be due week 5), and write a summary/critique of the article discussing the content of the article, how it relates to our course content, and how you would or would not use the ideas of the article to teach to students of the appropriate grade level.
Details will be given during week 3 of the course. The article critique will be due Thursday, November 5.

Class Participation:

Attendance is important to your success. You are expected to be an active member of this class. If you must miss class (or are tardy), it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Some class time will be used for lectures, however we will often work through a number of worksheets and hands-on activities. Any disruptive behavior interfering with the learning environment of others will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action and/or removal from class.

Late Work Policy:

I have a firm policy of not accepting late work. If alternate arrangements need to be made, you must complete the work before the due date. If you cannot make it to an exam due to documented illness or the like, let me know in advance by phone or e-mail. Make-ups will be given only under these circumstances. I do reserve the right to refuse make-up requests. The only exceptions to this policy are documented medical emergencies and the like (verifiable). I do not give early exams to accommodate vacation schedules, so please make your holiday travel plans accordingly. I do reserve the right to refuse make-up requests. Don't abuse this.

Academic Honesty:

I consider academic honesty to be at the core of the University's activities in education and research. Cheating is an attack on the efforts of myself and fellow students and, above all, on the cheater's integrity. Those caught cheating will be dealt with to the full extent allowed under University policy including, but not limited to, receiving a zero score and reporting to the Coordinator of University Discipline.

Cell Phone Policy:

During class time, your cell phone, or equivalent, is to be turned off and out of sight. Any use of a cell phone during class will result in confiscation of the phone until that day's class has ended or your removal from the class for that day. If you attempt to use your cell phone or leave it on during an exam, you will be considered to have finished your test, and I will collect your exam at that time. Exceptions may be made only if you discuss your situation with me prior to the start of that day's class, in this case, your cell phone must be set to vibrate/silence or quietest agreed upon setting.

Students with Disabilities:

Academic accommodations are available to students who are registered with the Office of Disabled Student Services. I cannot make accommodations until the student has filed all appropriate paperwork and Disability Resource Services (MSR 210, 667-3159) has notified me of the appropriate accommodations.

Students in Athletics:

If you are a student athlete, it is your responsibility to provide me with a letter signed by your coach listing all of the days in which you will be absent. Accommodations will be made only if I receive the letter from your coach at least 7 business days in advance, with appropriate exceptions for the first seven business days of class.

General Suggestions:

• Don't use the fact that I drop one homework/quiz to blow them off. You might need the drop later on in case you get sick or do not do well. You will also need to know that material for the exams!
• Some of the homework exercises may be time consuming, so DO NOT put off the homework until the last minute.
• Keep all homework assignments. They are the best study materials for the exams.
• Participate in class, ASK QUESTIONS, make use of my office hours. The material really builds on the sections previous to it, so it is important for you to understand the previous and current sections before trying to understand the next section. If you get behind or stuck, see me or work with other students RIGHT AWAY.
• Form a study group with others in the class. Work together on homework but everyone must join in and work. Know the difference between valid group work and plagiarism.
• If you think you'll need extra help, get it ASAP!

Important dates: (See Schedule of Courses or Academic Calendar)
Last day to drop a class:	October 6
Last day to change grade options (CR/NC):	December 4
Dr. Coughlin's Furlough Days:	Sept 4, Oct 1, 14; Nov 23, 24, 25; Dec 17, 23
No classes:	October 13; November 11, 26, 27 :)

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