MTG 3203

Geometry for Middle School Teachers

MW 6:00-7:15

Grades are here.

Professor: Dan Dreibelbis

Office: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Building 14, Room 2709
Office Phone: 620-3718
Office Hours: MW 2:00-3:45, 5:30-6:00
E-mail: ddreibel@unf.edu
Web Site: http://www.unf.edu/~ddreibel/mtg3203

Text: Symmetry, Shape, and Space, Kinsley and Moore

Software: Geometer's Sketchpad

Other Material Needed:

This course will be very visual, and as such will require lots of arts and craft material. For the beginning of the course, you will need:

Colored pencils
Compass
Ruler
Origami paper (any relatively thin paper will do; don't buy the expensive stuff)
Tracing paper (transparencies, with the right markers, will do)

I reserve the right to ask for other supplies later in the course (I won’t be asking you to buy anything that is expensive). Also, internet access and basic computer skills (i.e., knowing how to use a web browser) will be required.

Goals:

To strengthen your understanding of mathematics
To help foster an appreciation of mathematics
To introduce you to geometry topics not typically found in a standard curriculum
To introduce you to geometry topics that can be modified for middle school teaching
To satisfy a middle school math/science education requirement

Tentative List of Topics:

Basics – measurements, triangle relations
Compass/straight edge constructions
Trisecting an angle
Mathematical Origami
Tilings
Patterns
Three dimensional geometry

Homework:

Homework will be assigned every week on Wednesday and then collected on the following Wednesday. Assignments will be given out in class and will also be listed on the web site. The only way to learn this material is through doing lots of problems. If you don’t learn the material, then you will probably fail the exams, and thus fail the course. Moral of the story: DO THE HOMEWORK!

Exams:

There will be two in-class exams, and a final:

Exam 1:            Wednesday, October 1
Exam 2:       Wednesday, October 29
Final:                Monday, December 8, 6:00-7:50

Exams will not be cumulative. Of course, there are no excuses for missing an exam.

Grades: The grades will be worked out as follows:

Homework:           20%
Exam 1:                 26%
Exam 2:                 27%
Final:                     27%

Office Hours:

My office hours are Monday/Wednesday 2:00-3:45 and 5:30-6:00, or by appointment. Take that "by appointment" seriously: If you cannot make my scheduled office hours, I am more than willing to meet with you at other times. In particular, I will be available most of the each day before 3:00. I have no pity for people who did poorly in my class, but never came to talk to me outside of class. My office is Room 2709, second floor in Building 14. I am a big, big fan of office hours, you are strongly encouraged to come to visit me.