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D200

Numeracy and Society

Instructor:

Kevin Wells

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Email:

kwells@sfu.ca

Dates and Times

June 22nd - Aug

4th

9:30am - 1:20pm ?

(Wednesdays and Fridays)

Location

EDB 8620B

Text: ?

Paulos, J. A. (1988).

Innumeracy: Mathem q tical illiteracy and its

consequences.

New York: Hill & Wang. (ISBN 9-780809-058402)

Readings: ?

Additional readings will be provided by the instructor.

Course Requirements

1. Participation (0%)

Participation is mandatory for this course. This will take three forms - attendance,

group work, and involvement in class discussion. If class is missed for either a

foreseeable or unforeseeable reason please see me and a makeup assignment will

be arranged. A large part of every lesson will involve small group work and

whole class discussion. Your involvement in both of these is expected. Learning

happens through dialogues not monologues.

2. Homework Assignment (30%)

Homework will be assigned at the end of most classes. Although it is expected

that you complete each assignment to a minimal level of depth you will only be

required to submit 3 assignments (worth 10% each). The assignments that are

submitted are to be completed to a greater depth. Assignments should be

submitted at the beginning of the next class - but can be submitted any time prior

to the return of the relevant assignments. Once submitted they will be marked and

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returned. Homework assignments will be drawn from the following:

• engagement with examples from the readings

• problem solving

• completion of a problem solving log (journal) in which they will detail the

process by which they go about solving an assigned problem, analyze their

personal problem solving experiences, and link (where applicable) their

experience to the research literature

• creating a numeracy enhanced lesson in an individual subject area

• exploration and extension of a topic introduced in class

3. (In)Numeracy around us - portfolio of artefacts (30%)

Throughout the course you will be asked to observe the world around you and

identify instances of numeracy/innumeracy. These instances can occur in personal

interaction, media, advertising, movies, etc. You must document at least 10 such

instances, with a minimum of 5

substantially different

examples, and submit as a

portfolio. Documentation can include personal anecdotes, photos, video clips,

excerpts from magazines or newspapers, etc. However, all documents must

include a commentary of what they demonstrate and why they were selected. The

portfolio is due on

July 15th

4. Final Project (40%)

To be announced and/or to be negotiated with the instructor. It is expected that the

final project is completed in groups of 2 to 4 students. This is due on

Grading Structure

Final Mark

Grade

96-100

A+

91-95

A

86-90

A-

81-85

B+

76-80

B

71-75

B-

66-79

C+

61-65

C

56-60

C-

46-55

D

0-45

F