EMAT 3500, Spring 2007

Exploring Concepts (with Technology) in Secondary School mathematics
Outline (Subject to adjustments as needed)

Week 1: (01/09 & 01/11)

Thinking about being a mathematics teacher

Setting up electronic communications (email and LiveText)

Introduction and discussion of NCTM Principals & Standards 

Introduction to the new Georgia Performance Standards for Mathematics 6-12.

Introduction to GSP4, Excel and Graphing Calculators
  Choose two of these Excel spreadsheet activities to explore!

Week 2: (01/16 & 01/18) Number and Operations

Chapter 6 from Transforming Mathematics with GSP

The Slide Rule (download GSP Slide Rule)
Constructing a product of two numbers on a number line using dilation (connecting with transformational geometry) (download GSP sketch) (Download Numberline Tool)
Investigating arithmetic relations dynamically: Mystery Machines
Mystery Combinations

Week 3: (01/23 & 01/25) Characteristics of Functions

Chapter 7 from Transforming Mathematics with GSP

Dynamic algebraic functions using transformations
Constructing a linear function through dilation and translation
Constructing powers of x through dilation
Comparing Functions on parallel number lines

Exploring the behavior of functions with Dynagraphs
Composing functions using a sequence of Dynagraphs

Week 4: (01/30 & 02/01) Exploring Functions with GSP

Click on the following links to download GSP sketches for these activities:
From Dynagraphs to Rectangular Coordinates.

Investigating different functions using both Dynagraphs and Rectangular Coordinates

Operations on functions using multiple coordinate systems

Week 5: (02/06 & 02/08) Further Explorations of Functions with GSP

Activity 7.4 from Transforming Mathematics with GSP:
Transformations of the quadratic function
Using GSP4 as a function-grapher 

Week 6: (02/13 & 02/15) Trigonometry of the unit circle with GSP

Chapter 9 from Transforming Mathematics with GSP

Week 7 (02/20 & 02/22) Investigating Functions

Sorting Functions
Conic functions through paper folding
GSP Simulation of paper folded conics

Week 8: (02/27) Midterm Practice Exam

Click here to download Dynagraphs_5.gsp

(03/01) Midterm Practice Review
               

Week 9: (03/06) Mid-Term Exam on Functions

(03/08) Introduction to Experimental Labs
       An introduction to Fathom

Week 10: (03/20 & 03/22) Experimental Labs

        Collecting data from lab experiments

                Finding lines of best fit for your data from your lab experiments
                Visit NCTM Annual Conference in Atlanta.

Week 11: (03/27 & 03/29) Representing and Analyzing Data from Experimental Labs           
                Lab Reports & Activities from:
                    Learning to Teach Mathematics with Technology: An Integrated Approach
We shall be using activities from Section 3, Analyzing Data with Fathom of a new curriculum resource being developed by Hollylynne Lee & Karen Hollebrands
Download the PDF document for Section 3 here.
Download the Fathom data set: 2006_Vehicles.ftm here.

                Line of best fit for a set of data pairs: Signed, Absolute and Squared deviations
                Discussion of implications of labs for teaching

 Week 12: (04/03 & 04/05) Data Explorations & Probability

More Activities from
 Learning to Teach Mathematics with Technology: An Integrated Approach

Activity from Unit 7 of Exploring Algebra 1 with Fathom
An example Integrated Mathematical Exploration
Geometric Probability and Curve Fitting using Fathom
Week 13: (04/10 & 04/12) Modelling with GSP

Chapter 8 from Transforming Mathematics with GSP

Using GSP to model physical situations and generate data:

The Biggest Box Problem
The Cardboard View-Tube Problem
Week 14: (04/17 & 04/19) Modelling with GSP (continued)

Discussion of simulations from the Biggest Box and View-Tube experiments

Proposals for Final Projects due

Week 15: (04/24 & 04/26)  Work on final projects 

Final Projects due on Monday, April 30 before 5:00 p.m.

Final Exam (Project Presentations): Thursday, May 3, 8:00-11:00 am in room 111/113
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