Submission Type
20-minute Presentation
Abstract
I will discuss blended learning infused into a liberal arts mathematics course for non-mathematicians that focused on real-world applications of mathematics and mathematical reasoning. Despite the general expectation of students to learn new math or practice on solving complicated equations, this course it is not about acquiring new math skills, but rather to understand how math tools can and are applied in everyday life. It is in fact, just as the title says, a course in which students are challenged to think mathematically, to analyze everyday questions and solve everyday problems using mathematics. While some instances are quite obvious (count money, pay bills, buy tickets to the movies, evaluate your grades, measure a building), others take students by surprise (cooking, counting votes in an election, origami, delivering mail, planning a trip around the country, scheduling, saving money, architectural design, computer simulations, cartoons, computer generated images, cell phone technology). Given the variety of topics discussed, this course is a combination of lecture, class discussion, and active experiential learning. This means that in addition to assigned readings and homework, the course material involves in-class student presentations, written entry and exit essays, and take-home team mini projects - not your traditional math class, as most students conclude at the end of the semester!
Session
Project Based Learning, Presentation
Start Date
5-18-2016 3:30 PM
End Date
5-18-2016 4:45 PM
Numbers Rock Our World: Classroom Viewpoint
I will discuss blended learning infused into a liberal arts mathematics course for non-mathematicians that focused on real-world applications of mathematics and mathematical reasoning. Despite the general expectation of students to learn new math or practice on solving complicated equations, this course it is not about acquiring new math skills, but rather to understand how math tools can and are applied in everyday life. It is in fact, just as the title says, a course in which students are challenged to think mathematically, to analyze everyday questions and solve everyday problems using mathematics. While some instances are quite obvious (count money, pay bills, buy tickets to the movies, evaluate your grades, measure a building), others take students by surprise (cooking, counting votes in an election, origami, delivering mail, planning a trip around the country, scheduling, saving money, architectural design, computer simulations, cartoons, computer generated images, cell phone technology). Given the variety of topics discussed, this course is a combination of lecture, class discussion, and active experiential learning. This means that in addition to assigned readings and homework, the course material involves in-class student presentations, written entry and exit essays, and take-home team mini projects - not your traditional math class, as most students conclude at the end of the semester!