Methods and Materials in Secondary Education: Mathematics

Masters of Science in Education

EDU 552C

Breyer State University
Instructor: Joseph Mcbride, MA, BA

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to METHODS AND MATERIALS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION: MATHEMATICS, a Master's Level course in the curriculum for the Degree, Master of Education. I am pleased to be your instructor for this course.

This course explores instructional theory and methods related to teaching secondary school mathematics. It begins with an overview of the challenges facing mathematics teachers today. A discussion of effective methods for teaching and assessment follows which includes methods for integrating technology into the secondary school mathematics classroom. The course concludes with a discussion of various enrichment techniques for gifted and other students as well as the development of various activities designed to enhance mathematics education through activities such as projects, clubs and fairs.

TIME FRAME: This is a five-semester hour course. This course is allotted 10 weeks of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the 10-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day which you notify me that your textbooks have arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of the time frame. It is rare that extensions of time are permitted, unless you have good justification. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded five semester hours of credit.

TEXTBOOKS: There is one textbook for this course.

Book 1: Teaching Secondary Mathematics Posamentiier. Alfred and Stepelman, Jay. Merrill Prentice-Hall, 6th edition. ISBN # 131185209.

	» Click Here to Enter
» Additional Student Resources at StudyTactics

EXAMINATIONS: There are two examinations for this course, a mid-term exam and a final exam. The mid-term exam covers the material in chapters 1- 4 of the textbook as well as the following enrichment units: 25, 27, 34, 40-44, 46 and 49. The final exam covers the material in chapters 5 - 8 as well as the following enrichment activities: 67-69, 74-77, 95, 96, 98, and 113. The mid-term examination must be taken by the end of the 5 th week in the course. The final examination must be taken by the end of the 10 th week in the course.

Both exams are programmed and are located in the classroom for this course. The examinations are "open book" objective type. You will have one (1) day to complete your exam, once you access it from the classroom. To access the exam, you must send me an email and request to have access to the exam. Upon registration, you will receive your email address. I will then program your access in. You will receive an email back from me telling you that you are now authorized to go ahead and to access your exam. To access, you will come into the classroom, click on testing, and click on the exam you are taking. You will need your User ID and PASS WORD to access the exam. The exam will appear on your screen. Once you access the exam, you have 24 hours to submit your answers. The program provides me the exact date and time that you accessed the exam. The program also notifies me of the exact date and time that you submitted your answers. Thus, the program is timing you. When you are ready, go back into the classroom and click in your responses and then click submit. Shortly, you will receive the exam in your email box with your computed score. You will also know what questions, if any, that you missed, and what the correct answer is. I also receive a copy of your exam and your score.

GRADING: The grading scale for this course is as follows:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%      = C
Below 70% = Fail

COMMUNICATION: You are encouraged to communicate with me. I am available as a teacher, coach, and mentor to assist you in meeting your goals for this course. Primarily, communication is through email. However, I am also available for conversation by telephone if you would like. Our classroom for this course has a "chat" room. I am also very willing to meet with you one-on-one in the chat room at your request. From time to time, depending on how many students are enrolled in this course at a particular time, we will have some scheduled group chats. You will receive more detailed information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled. Please keep my email address handy so that you can contact me whenever necessary. If at any time during this course you change your email address, please be sure to notify me right away.

ASSIGNMENTS: There are no written assignments for this course. This is a self-paced independent study course. A considerable amount of reading is involved in this course. Once you receive your textbook, please read chapters 1 - 4 and the following ten enrichment exercises: 25, 27, 34, 40-44, 46, and 49. As described in the examination section of this syllabus, the mid-term examination will cover theses chapters as well as the listed enrichment exercises. After completion of the mid-term examination, please read chapters 5 - 8 and the following eight enrichment exercises: 69, 74-77, 95, 98, and 113. The final exam will be based on these chapters and exercises.

You are encouraged to read over all of the enrichment units in the textbook since they provide excellent methods for making the study of mathematics an interesting challenge for a wide range of students. The enrichment exercises that I have selected for this course provide those activities designed for an average student in grades 9 through 12.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Joseph McBride, M.A., B.A., is currently employed as a manager with the State of Florida. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from West Virginia University and a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut. He has completed all but dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Education at Nova Southeastern University. He has more than 20 years of experience in education at both the secondary and collegiate level. Hobbies include fishing, boating.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: After the completing this course, you will be able to:

1). Discuss the crisis and challenges in mathematics education today.
2). Discuss short-term and long-term planning and describe prepare a model lesson plan for the mathematics classroom.
3). Describe the goals and objectives of secondary mathematics education.
4). List and describe various motivational techniques relevant to teaching mathematics.
5). Discuss the importance of writing in the secondary school mathematics classroom.
6). Discuss the role of problem solving and describe the ten problem-solving strategies detailed in the textbook.
7). Describe methods for constructing, administering, and grading tests. Discuss methods for interpreting results.
8). List and describe the various extracurricular activities that compliment classroom instruction.

Apply	Pay Online	Refund Policy
Payment Plan	Email for Info	Register for a Course