Instructor. Eric Hsu (erichsu@math.sfsu.edu), 932 Thornton Hall, 415-338-1104. AOL IM: EricHsuSFSU
Office Hours. Tu 11:30-12:30, 2:00-3:00 and by appointment.

Class Home Page. http://betterfilecabinet.com/565.html. Announcements, homework assignments, test schedules, grades and this syllabus are all posted here.

Course Objectives.

• Learn and explore the geometry and probability strands for the elementary curriculum.
• Help you see math as interesting and relevant.
• Help you see yourself as capable of learning mathematics and solving mathematical problems on your own.
• Introduce you to materials to teach content in the geometry and probability strands to elementary school students.
• Convince you that math is not a bunch of formulas to be memorized but problems to solve and patterns to find.

Textbook. None. There will be handouts in class.

Teaching Style and Attendance. About two-thirds of the time will be spent on activities in small groups. The other third will be lecture and discussion. Because of the emphasis on in-class activity, attendance is mandatory. Missing class without prior notice will cause damage to your academic experience, your grade, and may cause you to be dropped from the class roster.

Earning Points and Grades. There are a number of ways to earn points in the course:

• Midterm (15%)
• Final Exam (15%)
• 10 best Homework grades (50%)
• Projects (20%)

Homework and Quizzes. Assignments will be given out on Thursdays and are due the next Thursday at the start of class. No late homework will accepted in any case. You are allowed and encouraged to work on the homework in groups, but you must write up the solutions in your own words or it will be considered cheating.

Each Thursday that homework is due, I will select one problem from each homework and I'll ask you to write up an answer for me in class on your own. I will grade the results of this quiz as part of your homework, replacing your original prepared work on the problem. This quiz will happen promptly at the start of the class and should take about ten minutes or less.

Tests. There will be one midterm and a comprehensive final exam. No makeups will be given without prior permission.

Projects. Your projects will be investigations of topics in mathematics. You will put together a learning station for your classmates. That is, you will bring to class an activity that can be put on a table and that will describe an activity for your classmates. You should not have to be present for your classmates to do the activity. They should learn some mathematics from doing the activity.

You are encouraged to work with one or two other people on your project. You will all receive the same grade, unless the whole group feels that is unfair. I will give you more guidance and ideas during the semester.

Religious Holidays. I will make reasonable accommodations for you to observe religious holidays when such observances require you to be absent from class activities. It is your responsibility to inform me during the first two weeks of the class each semester, in writing, about such holidays.