Course Description:  Sets; systems of numeration; whole number, integer, and rational number operations and properties.  Particularly appropriate for early childhood, elementary, and special education majors.  This course does not apply to the mathematics major or minor requirements.

Prerequisites:  Students enrolled in this course should have completed two years of high school algebra or its equivalent and one year of high school geometry.  Students must have successfully completed Math 110 or its equivalent with a C- or better prior to taking this course.  (For students who have not taken Math 110 at MSUM, there is a requirement that the Computational Mastery Exam be passed to pass this course.)

Outline of Major Content Areas:

Learning Outcomes: 

• Understand place value concepts using difference bases material
• Work with a variety of models associate with different operations
• Work with whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, decimals and their operations without using calculators
• Solve problems using standard and other appropriate algorithms without using calculators
• Apply number sense when solving problems
• Demonstrate proficiency with teaching materials such as Dienes Blocks, and other manipulative materials.
• Correctly use and explain the models used for teaching mathematical concepts and algorithms in the elementary school mathematics curriculum which included:
  • Whole number computation
  • Whole number operations and properties
  • Rational number operations and properties
  • Decimal, ratio, proportion, and percent
  • Number theory
  • Algebraic thinking
  • Problem Solving

Comment on time investment:  MSUM's standard is that one semester credit hour for undergraduates is meant to represent three hours of academic work per week for the average student who has the expected preparation for the courses that he or she is enrolled in.  For a three-credit course such as this, this means that you should expect to work 9 hours a week on just this class.  We will meet for 150 minutes, or 2 hours and 30 minutes, during the week, which leaves 6 hours and 30 minutes for work at home.  So you should expect to work a little more than an extra two hours at home for every class meeting, assuming that you are at the level that the Mathematics Department expects for students in this course.  If your background is a little stronger or weaker than that, you should expect to spend less or more time studying and doing homework outside of class than this, respectively. Note that the general expectation of 3 hours of work per week per credit applies to all college classes at any university - it is why 12 credits is considered full-time as a student, as it corresponds to 36 hours per week.

Attendance:  In order to succeed in mathematics classes, experience indicates that it is extremely important that students stay on schedule.  I do not take formal attendance, but it would be a poor idea to miss class unless you are ill.  You will be responsible for getting notes from a classmate if you do miss class.  If you miss an exam, I expect to be notified as soon as feasible about the reason for missing the exam.  Work that is completed outside of class is due on the due date, regardless of whether or not you made it to class that day.  It is considered on time if I receive it before I start grading, and you may always turn it in early.  I will generally start grading at 2:00 pm.  I will check the tutor room for stragglers just before I start grading, so if you're pushing the clock, work in the tutor room. 

For a known absence due to military duty, jury duty, or other legal requirement where you will miss an exam, you must give me notice as soon as feasible and prior to the absence.  Similarly for an absence due to an official university activity, if you provide me written notice at least two weeks prior to the absence, as per the Absence Policy and procedures (see the Policies webpage)  I feel it is necessary to point out that it is up to you to satisfy this requirement, not the coach or faculty advisor connected to the event, since insufficient notice will be your problem, not theirs.  For absences due to personal reasons such as illness or family emergencies that cause you to miss an in-class lab or an exam, you must notify me as soon as feasible, which among other things means before the exam in the vast majority of cases.  In order for a makeup exam to be graded, written documentation of the reason for the absence will be required.  Examples are:  a note from the doctor saying you were seen (it does not have to say what you were seen for), a copy of the police report for a minor car accident, funeral program or obituary, etc..  (In the case of a funeral, if your relationship is not clear, I may ask you to write a short sentence saying what the relationship is and to sign it.)  In addition, makeup exams are given only on Study Day.  This semester, Study Day is Wednesday, December 6.

For other written work done at home, I do not accept late assignments for any reason other than illness or military/jury duty lasting more than six business days.  Thus, for work that is finished outside of class, finish it as soon as you can, and feel free to turn it in early.  It is expected to be submitted in hardcopy format in class or to my office.  For work that is done entirely in class (such as quizzes or in-class activities), you will need to provide the same notice and documentation as for an exam, and you will need to finish the work within two class days after your return or one week from the date of the original assignment, whichever is sooner.  In the case of extended absences due to illness or other excused reason, this may be adjusted based on my (the instructor's) discretion.

Absences due to family vacations, reunions, weddings, etc., are not excused absences unless you inform me of them by Monday August 28, 2017.  I expect you to schedule such events around your class schedules if they come up during the semester, especially since the exam dates are already set.  Exams missed for this reason would be taken on Study Day, and any out-of-class work missed for this reason must be completed before you leave. See the instructor for the assignment(s) in order to complete it early.  In-class work would be due within the same time period as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Student Expectations:

• Regular and active classroom participation.
• Work cooperatively in small groups on in-class activities.
• Use appropriate tools (paper, pencil, mulit-base blocks, other manipulatives) when solving problems.
• Allocate time in your schedule to complete the assignments by their due dates.
• Solve problems in mathematics by formulating problems, using different strategies to verify and interpret results, and communicate results.
• Students will act in an honest and trustworthy manner in class and on all assignments. 

Academic Honesty: You are expected to do your own work.  You may certainly work with others and get help on assignments (in fact, it's encouraged and expected), but the work you submit should be your own work.  If you do get help on assignments, you also need to cite your sources, as any ethical adult gives credit where credit is due.  Note that during exams you will not be allowed to get help from others.  Make sure that you learn the material while you do the assignments - that is the purpose of the assignments.  Then during the exam you can demonstrate your knowledge - that is the purpose of the exams.  Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated in any college course (or any course at any level).  See the Academic Honesty Policy (on the Policies webpage) for more information and possible consequences of cheating.

Tutoring and other Academic Assistance: If you wish to be considered as a tutor for this class in a future semester, please let me know and remind me at the end of the semester.  Instructors for this class are often asked for recommendations of students who would make good tutors, so I will likely make recommendations at the end of the semester.

If you need extra assistance, keep in mind that office hours with the instructor is usually the most efficient means of getting help.  Take advantage of it!  And keep in mind that my office hours might change frequently since I am on a lot of committees, so try to keep my most recent office hours handout available or check my webpage.  Also keep in mind that I am available any time I am in my office, not just office hours.  Office hours are just when I try to make sure that I am there.  If I am not available or if you wish a different perspective, there is both drop-in tutoring in the main math department tutor lab in Maclean 383, and there is a 303 tutor scheduled 10-noon M/W/H/F.  There is also small group tutoring offered through the ASC in Flora Frick, please sign up with them early if you anticipate that you would like to use the service so they can set it up in a timely manner.

Library Materials:  Dienes Wood Kits are available in the Library at two different locations one set on the second floor in the CMC Curriculum Kits with call numbers 513.2 D562m.  The other set is at the front desk on reserve: Base 2 Reserve # 471, Base 3 Reserve #472, Base 4 Reserve #473, Base 5 Reserve #474, & Base 6 Reserve #475.

Special Accommodations:  Minnesota State University Moorhead is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. Accessibility Resources (AR) is the campus office that collaborates with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange accommodations.

• If you have, or think you may have, a disability (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory or physical) please contact the AR at (218) 477-4318 (V) or (800)627.3529 (MRS/TTY) to schedule an appointment for an intake.
• Additional information is available on the AR website: http://www.mnstate.edu/accessibility

Course Requirements:  You are expected to complete daily homework and labs and take and pass all the exams on the scheduled dates.

Evaluations Standards: Your course grade will include assignment and exam grades.  For more details, see the grade page.

Course Outline:  See the course schedule.

General Comments:  I do not curve college-level courses.  I grade you as individuals based on how well you have mastered the material, not by how you compare to other students.  I also very rarely give extra credit, and when I do it is to the entire class.  If you come to my office at the end of the term and ask if you can do extra credit to improve your grade, my answer will be no.  The grading scale and weights for the homework and exams are given here.

I will in general return any work the next class day.  If you are not there, I will not give it to friends, roommates, or siblings/spouses/children/parents, nor will I give out grade information on the phone or to a non-mnstate email address.  (These restrictions are not arbitrary - they are based on federal law regarding student privacy.)  Normally I include any old assignments with any current ones, but I do not generally try to pass them back a second time unless you have turned in the most recent assignment.  I will bring the old assignments with me every day, so if you ask at the end of class or during lab time you can get them then.

Cell Phones and other Respect Issues:  Turn off your cell phones when you go to class (this class or any other class).  Cellular phones and other distracting devices generally have no place in a formal or semi-formal setting, such as a classroom.  Having your phone on, even in vibrate mode, is disrespectful to both your instructor and your classmates.  If your cell phone rings, beeps, or has an audible vibrate during an exam I will reserve the right to require that you turn in what you have at that point, without finishing the exam, or to reduce your exam grade by 25%.  The point is that such an interruption can hurt your classmates' exam grades.  In mathematics in particular, regaining a train of thought that was interrupted by a classmate's phone can be very difficult for some students, and their exam grades correspondingly suffer.  I strongly suggest that you always remember to turn off your phone.  This policy applies to any other distracting device, such as a pager or alarm clock, as well.

Similarly, I expect you to respect the learning environment by being in class on time and ready, to do mathematics the entire period, and to remain in class until the end of the class.  On those rare occasions where you must be late, show respect by taking off your coat and getting out your notebook in the hallway before entering the room, and sitting down in the first available seat by the door - even if it is not where you prefer to sit.  That way you minimize the interruption to your classmates.

In addition, during exams, your cell phone (or any other electronic device) may not be visible at all - put it in your closed bookbag or something similar.  If you use it for your watch, you will have to bring a different clock to exams or use the classroom clock.

Sexual Violence Prevention Statement:  Acts of sexual violence are intolerable.  MSUM expects all members of the campus community to act in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of others.  We are committed to eliminating all acts of sexual violence. 

MSUM faculty and staff are concerned about the well-being and development of our students.  We are obligated to share information with the MSUM Title IX Coordinator in certain situations to help ensure that the students' safety and welfare is being addressed, consistent with the requirements of the law.  These disclosures include but are not limited to reports of sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.

If you have experienced or know someone who has experienced sexual violence, services and resources are available.  You may also choose to file a report.  For further information, contact Lynn Peterson, Coordinator of Sexual Assault Services and Hendrix Clinic and Counseling Center, 218-477-2211, or Ashley Atteberry, Title IX Coordinator in Owens Hall 208, 218-477-2174, ashley.atteberry@mnstate.edu.  Additional information is available at www.mnstate.edu/titleix.

 MN Board of Teaching Standards for TEACHERS OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION majors addressed in this course includes:

Math 303 Main Page

Prof. Fagerstrom Home Page

Mathematics Department Home Page

MSUM Home Page