Introduction

Introduce myself – office

 

Discuss syllabus  -  grades are still in consideration

 

Office hours – please use

 

Math Lab – LF 100

 

Emphasis on groups

 

Read as assigned in text

 

Web page

 

My goals for course  -

            1.  Do mathematics

            2.  Conscientious student, good attendance, daily participation

            3.  Challenging, but “doable”

            4.  Not a “pud course”

            5.  Learn to problem solve

 

ATTENDANCE –

Problem of the Day

 

 

 

Notes from Textbook Introduction

 

Problem Solving – knowing what do when you don’t know what to do!!

 

Much of the course is taught using groups   - Collaborative learning; cooperative learning

            Make sure all the other members of your group understand

 

Appropriate for a liberal arts mathematics course

 

Must organize and write about your solutions – using complete sentences

            Sometimes present to entire class.  Make sure answer is reasonable in context of problem –

            Page 6 – The Vans problem.  -  Do in groups, then together as a class

 

Organized around problem-solving strategies

 

Exercise   (repeat a method learned from a similar examples

Problem – more complex than an exercise

 

 

 

 

You may sometimes find that your first approach to a problem doesn’t work.

Abandon it and try another approach

Be persistent.

Eventually put it aside and come back to it later.

 

**Get together with other students outside of class

 

Maximum benefit from book – stop and work the problems before reading the solutions

 

GOAL – not just get answers, but to learn more solution strategies

 

Solving same problem in many different ways will help you become a better problem solver.

 

Various “dog” icons – pg 4

 

Problem Set A – use strategy of that chapter

Beginning chapter 3, Problem Set B – strategy of that chapter or previous chapter – harder

Classic Problems – Very challenging

 

 

Note relying on the instructor to verify your work will help you become a better problem solver.

 

 

Problem of the Day – give out at end of class – due in problem solution form next class – ready to present to class

 

3 X 5 card – name, address, phone #, math background, how feel about math

 

Group work – groups of four – will change groups frequently

 

Assignment  -  Read pages 7-top of 17  .... read with a pencil & paper in hand

 

            Problem of the Day  -  #2  Ducks & Cows

 

Presentation of problem of the day, next Wednesday in class