EDUC. 475-4 AGNS FOR LEARNING:

Eleinentaryliool

Mathematics

SPRING, 1982

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INSTRUCTOR: A. J. (Sandy) Dawson

Office: MPX 8632

Phone: 291-3189

Thursday, 4:30 - 8:20 ?

LOCATION: on campus

OBJECTIVES: The course is designed for prospective and practising

elementary school teachers who wish to explore the fundamentals of the

learning/teaching process as it applies to mathematics. The course will

be operated in a workshop fashion with students expected to

become familiar with and confident in the use of a variety of

manipulative aids such as rods, logic blocks, geoboards, and

so on;

engage in discussion and formulate their own rationale as to

the how and why of teaching mathematics;

explore the realities of chirdren's and adult's learning

powers and patterns by an examination of their own learning

powers and patterns.

On completion of the course it is hoped that teachers will feel more at

ease with the subject of mathematics, be able to deal confidently with

the prescribed curriculum, and be able to plan mathematical instruction

within a consistent framework.

OUTLINE OF TOPICS: The topics to be dealt with are the usual contents

of the B. C. Curriculum which will be examined from a methodological

perspective (how do you teach multiplication, fractions etc.), from the

viewpoint of mathematics (what is multiplication, what are fractions

etc.), and from the vantage point of the role of mathematics in

everyone's learning of language and general growth (eg. integration of

other subjects, relationship to language arts).

TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS: Students will be expected to

participate fully in classwork and discussions, and complete

homework assignments;

study their own strengths, weaknesses, and questions vis-a-vis

the teaching/learning of mathematics, and to keep a record--a

j

ournal--of this study;

prepare and teach a prototype lesson demonstrating their

facility in using and understanding of some manipulative aid

appropriate to mathematics instruction;

complete a term project developed in consultation with the

instructor.

ELIGIBILITY: Education 401/2 or equivalent.

TEXTBOOKS:

Trivett, John V.;

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. . AND SO ON: New Designs For Teaching

Mathematics, Deselig Enterprises Ltd.., Calgary, 1980

Dawson., A. J. (Sandy); CHILDREN TEACHING THEMSELVES MATHEMATICS.,

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, 1981.