Mathematics 331OL: Mathematical
Explorations
Spring, 2007
Mathematics Department Office: Santa
Sussana Hall (formerly Faculty Office Building) , first floor
Text: The Mathematical Experience STUDY EDITION.
ISBN 0-8176-3739-7.
Course goals: To give students
an appreciation of the diversity of mathematics and the spirit in which
it is employed in various applications.
Course content: The character
and origin, as well as historical and modern applications of
mathematical
concepts.
Course assignments: on-line
(email or hypernews posted) reading and writing exercises and
problem sets which represent 60% of the grade in
the class. All on-line
assignments must be submitted on dates listed in a course plan below.
Grades will be
assigned according to the following scale: 100-90
= A, 89-88 = A-, 87-85 = B+, 84-80 = B, 79- 75 =
C+, 74-70 = C, 69-65 = D+, 64-60 = D, 59-55 = D-, and below 55 = F).
No late assignments are accepted.
Final exam: A 12
page expository research paper, which
represents 40% of the grade that teaches a specific mathematics topic.
Course Plan:
All reading assignments are from the text:
The Mathematical Experience, Study Edition. ISBN
0-8176-8739-7. The + indicate reading from an
outside source: journal article or book. Homework
assignments will be posted on the discussion group pages. .
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Week |
Monday |
Wednesday |
Friday
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Collaboration with groupmates. Email group
answers to discussion questions 1 by 10 p.m. |
Homework 1 Essay: Re the characteristics
Mathematics shares with other fields. Emailed
by 1 p.m. Saturday |
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Reading Assignment 2: The
course of Mathematical evolution Pages 36-37, 59-69, 97-120 + |
Collaboration with groupmates. Email group
answers to discussion questions 2 by 10 p.m. |
Homework 2 Essay: Re
the role of the individual and the culture in the growth of Mathematics. Emailed by 1 p.m. Saturday |
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Video assignment A |
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Homework A: Essay on video. Emailed by 1
p.m. Saturday |
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Reading Assignment 3: Invention vs. discovery in
mathematic. |
Collaboration with groupmates. Email group
answers to discussion questions 3 by 10 p.m. |
Homework 3 Essay: Re the
question of the creation or discovery of Mathematics.
Emailed by 1 p.m. Saturday |
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Reading Assignment 4: |
Collaboration with groupmates. Email group
answers to discussion questions 4 by 10 p.m. |
Homework 4 Essay: Re the aesthetic appeal of
Mathematics. Emailed by 1 p.m. Saturday |
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Video assignment B |
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Homework B: Essay
on video. Emailed by 1 p.m. Saturday |
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Reading Assignment 5: |
Collaboration with groupmates. Email group
answers to discussion questions 5 by 10 p.m. |
Homework 5 Essay: Re
how to teach Mathematics to students with different learning styles.
Emailed by 1 p.m. Saturday |
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Video assignment C |
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Homework C: Essay on
video. Emailed by 1 p.m. Saturday |
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Reading Assignment 6: Mathematical Reality 233-240, 405-453, + |
Collaboration with groupmates. Email group
answers to discussion questions 6 by 10 p.m. |
Homework 6 Essay: Re teaching abstract Mathematics.
Emailed
by 1 p.m. |
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SPRING BREAK. |
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Video Assignment D |
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Homework D: Essay
on video. Emailed by 1 p.m. Saturday. |
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Homework I: Resources for final paper. Posted by 4 p.m |
Research |
Research |
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Research |
Research |
Homework II: Detailed outline for final
paper. Posted by 1 p.m.
Saturday |
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Write |
Write |
Homework III: Email
Draft of Final Paper as WORD attachment by 1 p.m. Saturday |
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Revise |
Revise |
Revise |
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Revise |
Revise |
Homework IV: Hard
Copy of Final Paper DUE before 4 p.m. Friday
5-18. |