Syllabus: MTHT 465

TEACHING ALGEBRA FOR UNDERSTANDING

Fall 2001

Instructor: John T. Baldwin

Texts: Gelfand and Shen: Algebra, Li Ping Ma: Knowing and teaching elementary mathematics

Class meets 5-8 Wednesdays.

This course has four aims: 1) understanding algebra as a tool for solving problems people have; 2) understanding algebra as a generalization of arithmetic and a tool for all technical careers; 3) understanding algebra in order to prepare younger students for the study of algebra; 4) understanding some of the difficulties students have with algebra.

The home page for this class is at www.math.uic.edu/~jbaldwin; then follow your nose. In the mathed section there are several articles directly relevant to this class; particularly the joint note with Cathy Kessel.

Materials: A calculator may be used from time to time. Only TI-8X are directly supported.

There will be homework assignments weekly, a midterm and a final exam. Homework will be accepted only on the due date, since it will be discussed in class that day.
The grade will be based approximately equally on the weekly homework, the midterm, on the final and class participation.

Office hours 1:30-2:30 M and F, 4-5 on Wednesday; and by appointment. Tell me if other times are better.

Feel free to e-mail me at jbaldwin@uic.edu or phone to make an appointment to discuss any difficulties that arise.

Office: 417 SEO.

Office phone: 312-413-2149

Assignments: The weekly assignments will mostly consist of mathematics problems. There will be some reading assignments and occasional writing assignments. Gelfand and Shen contains literally hundreds of problems. We will do some in class; some will be explicitly assigned; others are for reference. The grade will be base approximately equally on four components: homework, class participation, midterm, final examination. I may decide to add a project and then each of the 5 components will be equally weighted.

Students with disabilities who require accommodations for access and participation in this course must be registered with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Please contact ODS at 312-413-2102 (voice) or 312-413-0123 (TTY).

Suggested Reading: Radical Equations, Robert Moses (Beacon Press 2001)

Twice as Less, Eleanor Wilson Orr (Norton, 1987)

There are no Children Here, Alex Kotlowitz (Anchor 1992) no math; just background

Following is a tentative schedule for the first month.

August 22: variables/ox expressions

August 29: manipulating variables: laws of arithmetic; Catalan numbers

Sept 5: negative numbers: Wizard; Gelfand 13/14; discussion of Chapter 2 of Ma.

Sept 12: discussion of Moses; Midterm Wednesday October 3. (Not 10th as originally said.)