Mathematical Problem Solving: Finding Math Everywhere

Mathematical Problem Solving: Finding Math Everywhere is a crosslisted Cognitive Science/Natural Science class.

Course Description
Students focus on ideas, not just techniques, as they implement problem-solving strategies and find mathematical principles across the disciplines. This course is especially useful for prospective early childhood and elementary teachers, as it provides them with a mathematical foundation designed to support their future work teaching mathematics. Students build on their mathematical understanding, enhance their comprehension of the mathematical/problem-solving process, develop their confidence in exploring mathematical concepts, and communicate that understanding to others. Students do college level mathematics in the context of the following topics with particular emphasis on the first two: Number Sense and Operations; Geometry and Measurement; Patterns, Relations and Algebra; and Data Analysis, descriptive statistics and Probability, finding that the concepts they uncover are useful in many aspects of what we do everyday. Students also complete observations in a K-12 classroom and develop problems/curriculum ideas for using math across the curriculum in the classroom. This course satisfies Division I distribution requirements.

Learning Goals

 * Quantitative
 * Presenting