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Math 11008 Instructors' Page

Note: I am no longer the coordinator of Math 11008.

Food for Thought

"As educators we want to help our students do mathematics. Yet herein lies a dangerous implicit conspiracy between pupils and teachers. When a child cannot cope with mathematics the cry is 'show me how to do it'. When the chips are down, in a large class with pressures all around, it is natural to do just that. And, for a time, everyone is happy. The child has instant gratification, the teacher is pleased that the child can do something, parents and politicians are satisfied that progress is being made. Yet, if we simply show children the procedures of mathematics, we may end up by confining them to a cul-de-sac of mathematical shortsightedness which ends up in terminal failure."

--David Tall, "Success and failure in arithmetic and algebra", Mathematics Teaching, 1991.

Text and Software

The current text is Explorations in Modern Mathematics, eighth edition, by Tannenbaum. You may cover whichever chapters you would like. Some instructors like to cover most of the book, spending just a week on each chapter. I have always spent about two to three weeks each on just a few of the chapters. In fact, I have covered a different selection each time I have taught the course.

The software for the course is MyLabsPlus. This is web-based. Students must purchase an access code. An economical version of the textbook is published as Explorations in Modern Mathematics Math 11008, custom edition for Kent State University . Students can purchase the text bundled with a MyLabsPlus access code at considerable savings. In fact, if they purchase the bundle at this web site (for $74), it is cheaper than buying the access code alone. The same bundle is available at the bookstore in the KSU student center for $100.50.

Guidelines for Instructors

Other Useful Information

Supplemental Material