Math 647 Unit: Early Number and Operations concepts

Introduction: About this Class

Things to know about this course:

• The content we will be covering and our schedule
• The assignments, tests and grading structure
• The technology tools you will need to be able to use

Content and schedule:

We will be looking at number and operations topics from Kindergarten through grade 5 or 6--We will start with a quick look at counting, and then really dig into finding out how children think about and come to understand addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Then we'll build up some of the basic ideas in our base 10 number system, and look at ways to add subtract, multiply and divide with multi-digit numbers (and ways to approach these when teaching) (Unit 2). In Unit 3, we'll look at those same ideas of numbers and operations with fractions. Finally, we'll finish with looking at decimals, percents and ratios (Unit 4). Usually I try to lead with an introduction to math standards, but I'm scrambling to put together something better addressing the Common Core math standards, so that will be at the end of unit 1 rather than at the beginning.

There is a lot of work, and a lot of assignments in this course. I'm providing tentative due dates for each of these assignments and units. These are not mandatory due dates, they are recommended due dates. You will learn more, and be less stressed if you spread this course out rather than trying to do it all very quickly. If you are devoted to the idea of doing it quickly, make sure that you allow yourself a minimum of 1 week per unit. I will not be deducting points for late work. Summer session officially ends Aug 25, and all work must be completed and submitted by that date. 

Assignments:

• Everything called an assignment (with an assignment number) will be graded. 
  
• Unless it is a D2L quiz, you should be turning something in for each assignment to the appropriate D2L Dropbox
• For each assignment it is your responsibility to:

• Format the problems and answers so that you have sufficient space to answer each problem appropriately.  This may sometimes involve changing my formatting to include more white-space.
• Choose an appropriate program/file type to submit your work.  Except for the occasional assignment where I specify a file type (such as videos) you may choose whichever of the following is most conventient for you.  Please submit work in one of these forms:
• A Microsoft Word document
• A SMART Notebook file
• A handwritten, scanned in, picture which has been inserted into a Microsoft Word document or is a single file .pdf
• A link to a video on the web, where the link has been pasted into a Word document.
• A video uploaded in .swf format (other formats may also be acceptable--check with me first)
• If for some reason you can't use one of these file formats (for example, if you can't insert your scanned documents into Word), you need to contact me and work something out individually

Tests and grades:

There will be a test at the end of each of the 4 units. After you have completed all of the assignments for a unit, you will request the exam for that unit.  At that point, you will have a 48-hour window to complete the exam. You will not be taking a comprehensive final exam for this class (summer 2012)

Assignments and quizzes contribute 20% of your final grade
Tests contribute 80% of your final grade

My default grading scheme is:

Technology tools

I'm going to embed these into the to-do's for the first several weeks as we go along, but here's the overview:

• You need to have Mircosoft Words, and you need to be able to type into a Word document and upload it to D2L to turn in typed assignments
• You need to be able to scan hand-written work into your computer and turn it in. When you are turning in hand-written work, I will accept it as a .pdf or as a picture embedded into a Word document. If you have a smart phone, you might want to check out these apps (iPhone, Android) for using your phone as a scanner. If you don't have a scanner, you can probably pick up a simple flatbed scanner for not very much money, or you can plan on going in to a computer lab or library to do your scanning on a regular basis.
• You'll be installing SMART Notebook on your computer (see the file in the Content section of D2L for information on how to download SMART Notebook and for the product key for it)
• You'll be recording audio of you explaining stuff, so you will need a microphone for your computer.  If you have a laptop, it probably has a built in microphone.  If you have a desktop, you will probably need to buy a microphone. You can get a headset with microphone for your computer from ShopKo/Walmart/Target etc.
• You'll be installing Jing on your computer, so you can make videos of your screen (with your voice overs). You can also use Jing for screen captures of pictures you have on your screen if you don't already have a favorite screen capture tool.
• You will be doing some writing onto your computer screen, using your mouse to control a virtual pencil.  If that sounds frustrating (or if you just like collecting cool tech tools), I recommend the VisTablet PenPad ( http://www.amazon.com/PenPad-7-7-Inch-Graphic-Tablet-Black/dp/B003OBZRPU)--it's less expensive than a lot of similar graphics tablets, and I find it easier to use than the Bamboo tablet.

More tech notes, and some useful links can be found here

If you have any other questions you would like to have answered in this document, send them my way.