Course Syllabus - Fall 2006

Course Number: MATH 3703

Course Title: Geometry for Teachers

Hours Credit: 3 hours

Prerequisites: MATH 2703

Instructor: Varies (multiple sections)

Instructor Office Hours: Varies (at least 10hrs/week)

Course Description: (Non-credit for mathematics major or minor) A continuation of MATH 2703. Special emphasis for teachers of grades P - 8. Logic; real numbers; basic and transformational geometry; measurement, including the metric system; problem solving; methods and material for teaching mathematics at the P - 8 level.

Topics: basic notions of geometry; geometry in three-dimensions, polygons, and curves; constructions; congruence; similarity; concepts of measurement in both the English and metric system; area; volume; mass; temperature; and motion geometry

Text:A Problem Solving Approach to Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers; Billstein, Libeskind, & Lott; Addison Wesley Longman; 2004 8th edition

Learning Outcomes: Students should be able to demonstrate:

  1. an understanding of standard vocabulary and symbols of geometry;
  2. an ability to reason logically and to provide justifications and coherent arguments for the plausibility of conjectures;
  3. a well-developed spatial sense including both two- and three-dimensional figures (tesselations, symmetry, congruence, similarity, polygons and other curves, polyhedra);
  4. a better understanding of measurement including the metric system;
  5. an ability to solve measurement problems involving perimeter, circumference, area, volume, temperature, and mass;
  6. a better understanding of the uses of a variety of manipulatives and other material for the 4 - 8 level;
  7. an ability to use geometry in real-world problem solving;
  8. a better understanding of geometry and measurement from a historical perspective;
  9. a better understanding of coordinate and transformational geometry an emphasis on

    10. problem solving;

  10. a better understanding of the vision of mathematics education as put forth in NCTM's Principles and Standards(2000); and
  11. an ability to recognize and develop positive feedback to common misconceptions of elementary and middle grade students.

Grading Methods: Tests, Quizzes, Final Exam, Homework; Percentages to be determined by the instructor.

Grading Scale: