Math 4201 - Seminar
Description: Students present seminars and discuss topics in mathematics taken from current journals or books. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication is provided. The topics vary from student to student.
Reflection: To wrap-up my math minor classes, this course was the perfect way to to so. This course was mostly project-based learning and presenting, learning from peers and our professor. This course taught me different, effective ways to teach mathematics in a classroom filled with any age group K-12. This course expanded my understanding on previously learned mathematical concepts and ways to effectively teach them.
Description: This course will explore the historical development of mathematics through a variety of time periods and civilizations (sic). Material will include ancient numeration systems, topics from Geometry, Number Theory, Algebra, Calculus and Graph Theory. Emphasis will be on developments that shaped the mathematics taught in K-12 system. Students are expected to do a major project.
Reflection: This course has taught me a lot of different ways that math can be applicable in every day life and different methods of math. The biggest takeaway that I have gotten from this course is that there are so many different ways of doing things in math, and there isn't one proper way. Exposing students to several ways to solve problems and expanding their thinking can be done from as young as Kindergarten.
Description: This course introduces the student to the skills of problem solving and critical thinking. Students are also exposed to some of the history, philosophy, ideas, and people in mathematics. An emphasis is placed on applications of mathematics to everyday life.
Reflection: This course was heavily project based. I didn't think I would enjoy giving presentations on math topics that were unfamiliar, but eventually I learned to love it. Learning math concepts from other people's points of view was an interesting way to learn different topics. This course really taught me that learning from peers is a fantastic way to expand knowledge and thinking.
Description: This course explores elementary number theory, numeration systems, operations on integers and rational number and elementary combinatorics using both inductive and deductive methods. Emphasis will be put on the development of clarity and understanding of mathematical processes and ideas, the application of these ideas to problem-solving and the communication of these ideas to other people.
Reflection: This class covered several different topics in different math departments. We had to complete 5 assignments, along with a midterm exam and a final exam. The assignments are very particular and students are required to explain the steps that they took to find the answers to each question. As a future teacher, this really helps me develop the skill of explaining myself in ways that have to make sense. This class is also extremely interactive with the other students. It helps us teacher candidates learn to work together, formulate questions, solve, and explain our answers.
Reflection: Throughout this semester, we covered several topics in geometry with several homework assignments we were required to submit, as well as two midterms and a final exam. This course taught me a lot more about geometry and how to think deeper, as well as teach geometry more effectively. There were several topics that I hadn't learned prior to taking this course, so it deepened my understanding of geometry and what I had learned previously.
Description: This course explores topics in discrete mathematics including the language of logic, set theory, enumeration, probability and statistics. Basic elements of probability and statistics will be used to solve problems involving the organization, description and interpretation of data.
Reflection: This course has developed my mathematical thinking and reasoning, not only as a students, but being able to incorporate it into my teaching career. It forces students to think through mathematical problems and be able to describe how the questions are solved. This course has helped me better explain myself and find more than one solution to problems that can be incorporated in several different ways in my teaching career.