Workshop on Geometry Software

Math 241
Spring 2015
Course number: 21933
Meeting Tu Th 11:00- 12:15
GMCS 421
San Diego State University

Professor: Mike O'Sullivan
Web page: http://www.rohan.sdsu.edu/~mosulliv/Courses/geometrysoft15s.html
Email: mosullivan@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: GMCS #413, ext. 594-0175
Office Hours: Tu Th 12:15-1:1:30.
and other times by appointment. a meeting.

Detailed Information

	Syllabus
	Week 1 notes and assignment
	Week 2 notes and assignment
	Week 3 notes and assignment
	Week 4 notes and assignment
	Week 5 notes and assignment

Course Description

This one-credit software workshop provides prospective secondary mathematics teachers an opportunity to explore a geometry software program (GS).

Required Materials

We will use GeoGebra, which is an open-source product similar to The Geometer's Sketchpad. GeoGebra is available free on the web. It is installed in the computer lab GMCS 421. Each student will create an account on the web with GeoGebra and save their work to this account. The instructor will access it and grade it via the web.

Schedule

Week	Tu. date	Th. date	Topic
Week 1	Jan 27	Jan 29	Euclidean Geometry
Week 2	Feb. 10	Feb. 12	Beyond Euclid
Week 3	Feb. 17	Feb. 19	Algebra and Geometry
Week 4	Mar. 3	Mar. 5	Transcendental Functions
Week 5	Mar. 10	Mar. 12	Calculus and Final Project

Student Learning Outcomes

Geometric constructions: Students will use the GS to do key constructions from Euclidean geometry and explain the properties of these constructions. Examples include the circumcircle of a triangle and quadrilaterals with special properties (rhombus, kite, parallelogram) and the midpoint quadrilateral. Students will also construct parabolas, ellipses and hyperbolas using their foci (or directrix).
Graphs of polynomial equations and intersections of curves: Students will use the GS to graph lines, parabolas and other polynomial equations and explain how varying parameters affects the graphs. They will explore and explain how the intersection points of curves vary as the parameters vary.
Graphs of trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions: Students will use the GS to graph trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions and explain how varying parameters affects the graphs.
Functionality of Geogebra: Students will become adept with key capabilities of Geogebra that make it useful for teaching: creating tools, exporting files, labeling figures, adding explanations, and publishing their work.

Grading

Class Discussions: [5 points each week, 25 total]
Each week, we will discuss a few of the math topics that GSP enables us to explore. There will be a participation grade for each class meeting.
Weekly Projects: [12 points each of 4 weeks, 48 total]
Each unit will involve submitting 1 GS file with several pages. Although each student is required to submit his or her own file, students are encouraged to collaborate when completing these projects. All assignments will be graded on a scale from 12 points (3 points for correct construction, 3 points for mathematical explanation, 3 points for quantity, 3 points for quality of presentation).
Final Project: [30 points]
The final project is a cumulative portfolio of all the work you have done for the course. You should update and revise your previous work, add additional content on a particular topic of interest. The goal of this entire little course is to help you think about how a GS might be useful in your future courses and future teaching. Therefore, the final project should display your capability to use this tool in a creative way.
(6 points for correct construction, 6 points for mathematical explanation, 6 points for quantity, 6 points for quality of presentation, 6 points for effective organization).
Grading scale:
94-103 A 90-93 A- 87-89 B+ 83-87 B 80-82 B- 77-79 C+ 73-77 C 70-72 C- 60-69 D