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Notes: Week 1
- Textbook analysis: What view of mathematics is being presented by the text? If one had only this book to go by, what would one think that mathematics is?
- Expected value: Cereal box problem
What are some characteristics of this problem? What view is portrayed of mathematics?
For extra credit (sort of): Find an analytical solution to this problem.
See: MSTE lessons and resources: http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/html.f/resource.xml - Lab sheets: Solve some of the problems using dice; some using a table of random numbers; some using the random number generation feature of Excel.
- Exploration: Construct Pascal’s Triangle using a probabilistic (experimental) approach.
- Alternative curricular materials:
Do a web search (webquest) to find curricular materials on-line.
Starting place: Maryland Virtual High School
What view of mathematics is portrayed by these materials?
Assignments for Feb 23
- White Paper One: Curriculum analysis
Do a critique of a selected passage (maybe a chapter) from a mathematics textbook that you are using, have used, would be likely to use. Identify at least five characteristics of mathematics that are implied thereby. For each characteristic give at least one specific example from the materials. Now find some contemporary mathematics curriculum material, preferably at the same grade level. Compare and contrast the view of mathematics being presented in these (newer) materials. Again, provide examples. - Descriptive statistics: Review concepts of mean, median, variation, mean deviation, standard deviation. Good reference: On-line lessons by Jay Hill at www.mste.uiuc.edu/users/hill
- Probability: Do selected exercises from Chapter one of the textbook. Write solutions for 3 to 5 problems using Resampling Stats (disk provided)
- Related research: Identify 3 or 4 pieces of research that support the educational value of the newer approaches to mathematics curriculum. These will help to build a basis for White Paper Two: Research Paper on mathematics curriculum which will be due on March 9 (only two weeks after WP One is due!)
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