TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Prefix & Number:    _   MAT 211_______________________

Course Title:                          Mathematics for Elementary Education I

Class  Hours                        Lab Hours                     Credits

Per week:  _3.0_                    Per Week:  _0_                       Awarded:  _3.0_

Catalog  Description: This course includes the following topics: logic, set theory, properties of and operations on counting numbers, integers, rational numbers, and real numbers. Open to elementary education majors only.

Entry Level Skills: A student should be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and signed numbers; to solve percentage problems; to solve simple linear equations, to solve simple word problems using algebra; and to plot points on a coordinate plane.

Pre-requisites: Satisfactory math placement test

Co-requisites: None

Text(s)/Required Materials: Billstein, Libeskind, Lott. A Problem Solving Approach to  Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers, 9^th ed., Pearson Addison Wesley, 2007.

Dolan, Williamson, Muri. Activity Manual—Mathematics Activities for Elementary School Teachers: A Problem Solving Approach, 6^th ed., Pearson Addison Wesley.

MML access code

Equipment: Scientific calculator. 

Course Competencies and Objectives/Major Course Topics: 

Unit 1: An Introduction to Problem Solving

Upon completion of this unit (Sections 1.1-1.4), the student should be able to:

     1. Understand and use Polya’s Four Steps of Problem Solving;

      2. Apply different strategies to solve problems;

      3. Recognize the value of looking for patterns and being systematic;

      4. Identify and generalize arithmetic and geometric sequences;

      5. Use the concepts of “variable” and “equals” to solve problems;

      6. Apply the Properties of Equality and algebraic thinking to solve problems;

      7. Explain the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning;

      8. Identify valid and invalid arguments.

 Unit 2: Sets, Whole Numbers, and Functions

 Upon completion of this unit (Sections 2.1-2.5), the student should be able to:

      1. Define and describe sets;

      2. Use basic set language concepts and ideas to describe what they see;

      3. Identify and interpret symbolic and visual representations of set operations;

      4. Use various models for the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and

         division;

      5. Use properties of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division over whole

          numbers;

      6. Construct an understanding of what “functional relationship” means.

 Unit 3: Numeration Systems and Whole-Number Computation

 Upon completion of this unit (Sections 3.1-3.4), the student should be able to:

      1. Compare and contrast ancient number systems;

      2. Understand and explain the difference between an additive or tally numeration

          system and a place value system;

      3. Count and perform operations in base systems other than base 10;

      4. Discuss the underlying concepts of the standard algorithms for the four basic

         operations with whole numbers;

      5. Use and explain alternative algorithms for the four basic operations with whole

          numbers;

      6. Choose appropriate strategies to estimate, mentally compute, and/or check answers

          to problems using the four basic operations.

 Unit 4: Integers and Number Theory

 Upon completion of this unit (Sections 4.1-4.6), the student should be able to:

      1. Understand, explain, and apply the four basic operations over the set of integers;

      2. Use properties of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division over the set of

          integers;

      3. Use the order of operations;

      4. Explain and apply divisibility rules;

      5. Explain the difference between prime and composite numbers;

      6. Identify prime numbers;

      7. Find the prime factorization of a number and list its divisors by using that

          factorization;

      8. Determine Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) and Least Common Multiple (LCM)

         of multiple numbers using various strategies;

      9. Use the concepts of GCD and LCM to solve problems;

    10. Perform computations using clock and modular arithmetic.

  Grade Calculation Method:     

 Grades for this course will be determined based on the following criteria:

                           Four unit tests                                              =   60 – 80%

                          Homework/Paper/Problem Sets/Etc.    =     0 – 25%             

                         Comprehensive Final Exam                       =  15 – 20%

                             TOTAL                                                                     100%

   Prepared by: ____Lou Ann Martin_____    Date written or revised: __June 11, 2007__