F401 Math Modeling through the Secondary Curriculum

Education Linked Course for M447                                                       

Fall 2004

Instructor: Dale Nowlin, Mathematics Department Chair, Columbus North High School

Instructor email: nowlind@bcsc.k12.in.us or dnowlin@indiana.edu

Meeting Time: To be determined.

Classroom: 3134

1 Credit: Credit/ No Credit (S/F)

Texts

There are no required texts for this course, although we will make use of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards and Indiana’s Curriculum Standards.  You probably have copies of these from other courses, but they are also available online.

Objectives

The primary objective of this course is to help you make connections between the mathematical content of M447 and the teaching and learning of secondary school mathematics.  Additionally, this course will enable you to prepare and collect mathematical modeling lesson plans for use during student teaching and as you begin your teaching career.  By discussing mathematics modeling and mathematics pedagogy, you will also become more conversant with, and able to apply important concepts in the teaching of mathematics, (e.g., standards, curriculum planning, lesson design, open-ended problem solving, technology, assessment, and student-centered learning).

Class Dynamics

Much of each class session will be spent trying out various modeling contexts and projects appropriate to the secondary school mathematics curriculum.  Some classes will be preceded by short reading assignments.  Students will write and critique each other’s lessons on mathematical modeling.  You should get as much out of this class as you put into it—in particular by asking questions, sharing your ideas, and thoughtfully discussing the experiences and ideas raised during class.  This is a participatory, discussion-based class and not a lecture course — so come prepared to engage.

Assignments

o  Readings and occasional written reflections

o  Design of 2 (depending on length) lesson plans driven by mathematical modeling; one of these will be a group project that may be tied to your M447 modeling project and one will be lessons you prepare individually

o  Participation in weekend workshops with secondary school teachers (Oct. and Dec.)

Indiana Mathematics Initiative connection

Indiana University is a working partner in a National Science Foundation grant involving nine Indiana school districts.  As part of that grant teachers from around the state will convene in Bloomington for a follow-up workshop to summer work on mathematical modeling.  On Friday evening a dinner meeting will be held at which there will be a talk about a current topic in mathematical modeling and its application to secondary mathematics classrooms.  On Saturday participants will get some “hands on” modeling experience.  All students enrolled in F401 Math Modeling through the Secondary Curriculum are invited to attend both two-day workshops being held in the fall.  The workshop includes a free dinner on Friday evening and a free lunch on Saturday.  Attendance at two sessions of these workshops will be required of F401 students.  That can be any combination of Friday evening and Saturday morning sessions.  Students unable to fulfill that class requirement will need to schedule a classroom observation and write a reaction paper for each session missed.  These observations need to be scheduled through the F401 instructor.  Students are welcome to attend all four fall sessions (Two Friday evening sessions and two Saturday morning sessions), but attendance is required at only two of the four days’ sessions.

Schedule

Last updated: September 13, 2004
URL: www.indiana.edu/~iucme/LinkedCourseSyllabusforMathModelingFall2004.htm
Contact: John LaMaster, IMI Web Technology Coordinator, (260) 481-5430
E-mail: lamaster@ipfw.edu