MED 524 4:30-6 P.M.
Mathematics Instruction at the Secondary Level BI 328
Professor Tom Giambrone 1 cr. Hour
Office 331 Bishop Hall 878 5717
Email: giambrtm@math.buffalostate.edu
Website: http://math.buffalostate.edu/~giambrtm/
COURSE INFORMATION
1. Materials: NYS Mathematics Core Curriculum and Resource Guide available at your school, in the bookstore (MED 308), or on the internet (www.nysed.gov). You should also become a student member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (www.nctm.org) for you will get a free copy of the newest standards document, Principles and Standards of School Mathematics, in April.
2. Course Purpose and Objectives:
a. The intent of this course is to provide students who are majoring in exceptional education with an overview of the content, teaching methods, activities, and evaluation procedures used in mathematics instruction at the secondary level.
b. Students will be expected to demonstrate a general knowledge of the mathematics courses offered at the secondary level, the expectations and standards to which students are held accountable, the teaching methods and strategies typically used in secondary mathematics classrooms, and a general knowledge of evaluation procedures.
3. Course Requirements
a. attendance Since there are so few sessions for us to meet you are expected to attend every class session. If you are forced to miss a class you should get assistance on the work missed before the next class but you are best served by coming to class regularly and asking questions as they arise. Absence for more than one class is considered excessive and could result in a lowering of your grade.
b. Homework will be given in each class. If you miss a class you are not excused from the required homework. Homework will be discussed in class and collected. It will be returned at the next class session.
c. grading Your grade will be determined by the quality of your written work, oral presentations and active participation in our discussions.
5. Topical Outline:
Meeting #1: What's Happening in School Mathematics?
a. current NYS curricula
b. the NCTM Standards
c. Standards 2000--what's likely to be ahead
d. assignment: Read (from NYS Core Curricula) and supplementary materials which have been distributed. Based upon your reading, our classroom discussion and the additional materials you have received write a 3-5 page paper in which you address each of the following topics: surprise about some mathematical idea, surprise about some mathematical attitude, a pedagogical position you support, a pedagogical position with which you disagree. As your consider each of these topics explore your own thinking. What I am looking for is a critical self-analysis of your attitudes and knowledge about mathematics and mathematics education. Please do not get side-tracked about implementation of some of these ideas as they specifically relate to exceptional education students, your experiences in schools, or your expectations about this implementation. What I hope to accomplish in this assignment is a new sensitivity of your own ideas about mathematics and related attitudes. This is an essay in which you are expected to support your opinions with good arguments.
Read 5-8, Math A and Math B (from NYS Core Curricula).
Meeting 2: Instructional Methodology and Materials
Meeting 3: The impact of Technology
We'll meet in the computer lab (BI 340) and explore computer and calculator resources.
Meeting 4: Diagnosis and Remediation
Meeting 5: Evaluation