Geometry in 2 and 3 dimensions, Math 129
Syllabus, Winter, 1999

Office hours for individual help are part of my job, so take advantage of them. If you can't come to any of the regular office hours, ask for an appointment. If you live far away or have a complicated work schedule, you can call for a phone office hour. An even better method is to send e-mail if you have a home computer and a modem, or if you are in a computer lab on campus. (I check my e-mail at least daily.)

Course content

This course is designed for prospective middle school math teachers. Middle school students need lots of concrete experiences to develop their geometric intuition, and can begin developing geometric reasoning abilities. So this course will take a hands-on approach to geometry.

Here are some topics we will cover in this course (we probably won't get to them all).

• Constructions with straightedge and compass, and with other mathematical tools
• Polygons (including tessellations) and polyhedra
• Symmetry and transformational geometry
• Coordinate geometry and measurement
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Reasoning and proof
• Computer software and the Internet
• Perspective drawing and related topics
• History of geometry

Textbook and other materials

No textbook. Course notes and problem sets will be handed out in class. Most of the materials will be available on the Web. (I tend to revise lessons each year. The web page specifies which lessons are up to date.)

You will need some geometric tools: a good compass, ruler, protractor. Other things that might be useful: calculator, graph paper, poster board, colored pens, utility knife (retractable razor blade knife.) For making tessellations, you will need a template of a number of the regular polygons. You can either make your own or buy a plastic one for about $10. I will take orders in the first 2 weeks.

You may also buy (optional) an NCTM "starter kit"--a sample of 3 issues of one of the NCTM's teaching journals and other information about the NCTM. I will collect $9 per kit during the first 2 weeks.

Required course work and grades

Your grade will be based on group assignments, individual work, a construction project, computer and writing assignments, and a midterm and a final exam.

Group work

Most of the course material will be presented in problem sets and units. You will learn the material in your group by doing and discussing exercises (warm-up problems). The group will also have some more substantial problems to work on during class. Groups will submit written and oral reports of their work (one report per group). Everyone in the group will receive the same grade on the report (exceptions made for absentees or non-contributors). Because of difficulties getting together outside of class, all group work will be done in class.

Individual problems

Construction project

On or before March 17, you will turn in a project which you have built or drawn, with accompanying commentary. Details for this assignment will be handed out in class.

Computer assignments

There is a lot of good geometry material available on computers. Some of it can be used only in the Math Dept. computer labs. Other material is on the World Wide Web, which you can get in many computer labs on campus, and through private Internet Service Providers such as America Online. You will be given an account on the Math Department computer system, which is connected to the Internet. You will have several assignments to do on the computers outside of class, so make sure you leave yourself some time on campus to finish them.

Exams

Exams will be designed to evaluate your mastery of the basic ideas and techniques, not your ability to do long, complicated problems in a short time. Problems will be based on problems done in class and as homework. Short essays may be included.

Attendance and participation

Class participation is mandatory; the discussions and activities during the class session cannot be replaced by reading someone's notes. Also, some assignments will be announced in class. If missing a class is unavoidable, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed from another student or from the class Web page and arrange to do the activities on your own. I will take attendance.

Due dates:

Evaluation: Your course grade is based on your work as follows:

All work will be graded according to rubrics---descriptions of what sort of work is expected for each score. The scores for problems (group, individual) run from 5 (A+) to 0 (F).

Score 5:	Shows a thorough understanding of the mathematics involved in the unit. Goes beyond basics; has explored the subject in some depth; has added her/his own ideas, extensions, problems, questions. Good answers to "Why?" will merit a 5 score.
Score 4:	Good understanding with only minor mistakes. Includes some explanations and/or work.Does not go significantly beyond basics. This is the highest grade for a complete solution, unless you have shown exceptional work, as described for the "5" score.
Score 3:	Adequate understanding, some mistakes; inadequate explanations; no extensions.
Score 2:	Inadequate understanding; serious mistakes.
Score 1:	Problem attempted, but little or no progress.
Score 0:	Not done or not seriously attempted.