Mathematics 331OL:  Mathematical Explorations
 Fall 2006

 

Professor:  Dr. E. A. Marchisotto
Office Hours:  on-line
Email:  emarchisotto@csun.edu    

Mathematics Department Office:  Santa Sussana Hall (formerly Faculty Office Building) 

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 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 10-12 page expository research paper, which represents 40% of the grade.

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. .

 

Course Plan

 

Week

Monday

Wednesday

    

1:  9-5

Reading Assignment:  The Mathematical landscape – what and where is Mathematics? Pages 1-30 +

Collaboration with groupmates. Email group answers to discussion questions by 7 p.m.

Homework 1: Re the characteristics Mathematics shares with other fields.  Emailed by 4 p.m.

2 : 9-11

Reading Assignment:  The course of Mathematical evolution Pages 36-37, 59-69, 97-120 +

Collaboration with groupmates. Email group answers to discussion questions by 7 p.m.

Homework 2:  Re the role of the individual and the culture in the growth of Mathematics.  Emailed by 4 p.m.

3: 9-18

Video assignment

 

Homework A: Essay on video. Emailed by 4 p.m.

4: 9-25

Reading Assignment: Invention vs. discovery in mathematic.

Pages 76-97, 356-382,+

Collaboration with groupmates. Email group answers to discussion questions by 7 p.m.

Homework 3:  Re the question of the creation or discovery of Mathematics. 

Emailed by noon on Saturday

5:10-2

Reading Assignment:

Mathematicians as pattern-finders.

Pages 138-195, +

Collaboration with groupmates. Email group answers to discussion questions by 7 p.m.

Homework 4: Re the aesthetic appeal of Mathematics. Emailed by noon on Saturday

6:10-9

Video assignment

 

Homework B:  Essay on video. Emailed by noon on Saturday

7: 10-16

Reading Assignment:

Cognitive styles and the learning of Mathematics.

Pages 304 -348, +

Collaboration with groupmates. Email group answers to discussion questions by 7 p.m.

Homework 5:  Re how to teach Mathematics to students with different learning styles. Emailed by noon on Saturday

8: 10-23

Video assignment

 

Homework C:  Essay on video.  Emailed by noon on Saturday

 

9: 10-30

Mathematical Reality

233-240, 405-453, +

Collaboration with groupmates. Email group answers to discussion questions by 7 p.m.

Homework 6: Re teaching abstract Mathematics. Emailed by noon on Saturday

10: 11-6

Homework I: Resources for final paper. Posted by 4 p.m.

Research

Research

11: 11-13

Research

Research

Homework II: Detailed outline for final paper.  Emailed by noon on Saturday

12: 11-20

Revisions

Homework III:  Letter to the Editor.  Posted by 4 p.m.

Thanksgiving holiday

13: 11-27

 

Homework IV:  Suggestions for classmates.  Posted by 4 p.m.

Revisions

14: 12-4

Homework V:  Draft of Final Paper

Revisions

Revisions

15 : 12-11

Revisions

Revisions

Homework VI:  Final Paper.  Hard Copy due in the Mathematics Office before 5 p.m. on Friday.