New
Challenge!
This year we have a new challenge for students in EMAT
6700. During the past two years, the Georgia State Department of
Education has begun implementation of the new Georgia Performance
Standards (GPS) for mathematics in 6th and 7th grades. In the Fall
of 2007, the 8th
grade standards will be implemented in Georgia middle schools.
Beginning in the Fall of 2008 the new integrated mathematics curricula
will begin being implemented with Math 1 in 9th grade classrooms. Math
2, 3 and 4 will follow in the Fall semesters of 2009, 2010 and
2011. These new GPS high school mathematics curricula provide an
opportunity for radically changing (and, hopefully, improving)
the mathematics preparation of all Georgia students.
The
new challenge that I am proposing for students in EMAT 6700 is to
develop web-based units of instruction for high-school mathematics
teachers to use that will be exemplars of the integrated approach to
mathematics that is the cornerstone of the new GPS. These units will be
keyed to the appropriate GPS and (if approved) be linked as resources
for teachers from the GPS web pages.
This course was originally designed by Professor Jim Wilson as a follow-up course to EMAT 4680/6680 and EMAT 4690/6690. EMAT 6700 is an extension of the previous two courses. We will continue to develop more depth with the use of various software applications to engage in mathematical investigations, to organize pedagogical demonstrations, and to set up problem explorations, and we will continue to emphasize the development of material that might be used with middle and secondary school students and their teachers.
The change from EMAT 4680/6680
and 4690/6690 is that each student, or possibly pairs of students,
in the course will select, develop, and carry out a major web-based
project: An Exemplar Unit of an Integrated Approach to Mathematics
Instruction at the middle or high school level.
The students will develop their project using appropriate technology and place it on their web page on the Mathematics Education server. The emphasis is on exploration of various mathematical contexts to learn mathematics, to pose problems and problem extensions, to solve problems, and to communicate mathematical demonstrations. Use of multiple technologies is encouraged and direct connection to the new Georgia Performance Standards in Mathematics is a requirement.
There will also be several readings from the current research literature on technology in mathematics education and an integrated approach to mathematics curricula. You will be asked to write brief reaction papers to these articles and be prepared to discuss issues raised in the articles during our class time and/or post your ideas to a web-based discussion group.
Click here for details of the Major Project and grading criteria.
The following software will be available for use:
The Geometer's Sketchpad, v. 4.06
Excel Spreadsheet
Graphing Calculator 3.0
Adobe PageMill 3.0 (for Web-page construction)
Netscape Composer (for web-page construction)
Alert! As EMAT 6680 is a pre-requisite for this course, I am assuming that students will have prior experience with The Geometer's Sketchpad and Fathom 2. I shall require all participants who do not already have copies to order student versions of these software.
Communication will be facilitated via e-mail and the course Home Page and each student should have an e-mail account.
Requirements for the Course
Attend classes as requested by the instructor.
Read and research the Georgia Performance
Standards for Mathematics (GPS)
Engage in mathematical explorations using a variety of software tools.
Read and respond to articles provided by the instructor.
Develop a web-based unit to support implementation of the mathematics GPS. This must be carefully planned and approved by the instructor.
Objectives for the Course
To become familiar with the Georgia Performance
Standards for Mathematics (GPS)
To become familiar with and
operational
on modern computer systems.
To use application software to solve mathematical problems.
To use application software to create mathematical demonstrations.
To use application software to construct new ideas of mathematics for yourself.
To engage in mathematical investigations using software applications.
To engage in some independent investigations of mathematical topics from the middle or secondary school curriculum or topics appropriate for those levels keyed to the GPS.
To communicate mathematical ideas that arise from computer investigations using word processing and web technologies.
To communicate mathematical ideas via the computer applications.
To become familiar with recent issues in the literature regarding the use of technology in mathematics education.
To use general tools such as word processing, paint programs, web page construction and spread sheets to facilitate mathematical investigations and communication about mathematical investigations keyed to the appropriate GPS.
The University of Georgia seeks
to promote and ensure academic honesty and personal integrity
among students and other members of the University Community.
A policy on academic honesty has been developed to serve these
goals. All members of the academic community are responsible for
knowing the policy and procedures on academic honesty. Click on the
link above to access the policy web page.
Links to prior students' projects:
Michelle Greene and Cheryl Self, 2005
Katherine Huffman & Brooke Norman, 2005
Kyungsoon Jeon and Larry Shook
Links to some web resources (these will be updated periodically, so check back often!)
David Arnold's Introduction to Fathom
Links to On-line Data Sources (for import to Fathom)
Steve Benson's "Ways to Think About Mathematics"
Web-based Applets
JavaSketchpad
Example (Eccentric Conics)
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives for Interactive Mathematics
NRICH Mathematics Entertainment Club
Logo Programming Languages
StarLogo and Connected Mathematics
State and National Curricula and Standards
Georgia Performance Standards (mathematics)
UK National Curriculum in Mathematics