MATH 508 — Spring 1999
Exploring and Teaching Secondary Mathematics

Instructor: Avery Solomon

Time:  TR 8:40-9:55

Room: WE 310

Now expanded to 4 credits.

The course will explore a variety of current issues in mathematics curriculum and education, including both content and methods of teaching mathematics. This course should be especially of interest to those planning to teach mathematics and those who plan to teach courses for teachers.

Topics may include:

• An introduction to different views of math education including constructivism, radical constructivism and Platonism.
   

• Current approaches to teaching mathematics, including the relevance of learning styles, cooperative learning, contextual problems, communication, writing and understanding in the classroom.
   

• An outline of the new NCTM Standards 2000 and other current frameworks for mathematics content and instruction.
   

• An overview of materials from NSF sponsored curriculum projects for middle and high school mathematics.
   

• A discussion of proof: What does it mean to prove something?: criteria of truth, and the place of logic and intuition in proof.
   

• The use of Geometer's Sketchpad and other software environments as a context for exploration.

Approach: We will engage in shared activities and explorations of a basic unit of instruction in pre-calculus mathematics as a context for the discussion of issues. Participants will read relevant articles and short (1-3 page) papers, and a final presentation/paper will be expected. We will also view and discuss videotapes of actual classroom activities. One credit worth of the course will be spent in the Computer lab learning and using Geometer's Sketchpad and other software. Contact the instructor, Avery Solomon, for more information.

Last modified: February 10, 2005