We recently (3 years ago) developed a Mathematics for Liberal Arts
Majors. It was a cooperative effort with the U. of A. Our guiding
principal was:
"What do you think a college-educated person should know about mathematics?"
and our department's requirement. "Make it relevant...real life...usable!"
Probability & Stats (esp. stats) topped the list. Definitely YES! We deal
with stats from the cradle to the grave (Geisel Norms to Life expectancy..).
It is important that these students understand what the "numbers are really
saying". Also accent sampling etc (How to lie with statistics) Pick up the
newspapers... We rarely see the reports...just the journalists interpretation
of the report. (Those future journalists are in your class too!) One of my
assignments is to have students locate a recent (last 2 weeks) non-medical
report article and point out what information is included and excluded ...and
given that info...are they "buying the story". [I must admit that I go on a
rampage about the 1-900-dial-in-your-opinion surveys... talk about your self
selected participants.]
Also exponential & logarithmic functions - Applications. Like present &
future value. I had more students comment...wish I had taken this class
BEFORE I bought the car, got the mortgage etc.
We also included apportionment (like the US house of representatives)...even
the methods of apportionment have historic names like Websters, Jefferson. etc
The political science & history majors enjoy this one.
Also group preference... like the Borda Count, or run off methods. How
exactly do they come up the "All Star" game players?
I also do a little on the Power Index. Looking at things from the local City
Council to the U.N.
The problem is finding a text book. Trust me I'm still looking for the
perfect book. In the interum we settled on "modules".. produced in spiral
bound format from : Innovative Textbooks in Irvine, CA (phone number 714
854-5667. We use three modules ... Mathematics of the Social Sciences,
Applications of Exponents and Logarithms and Probability and Statistics. OF
the three I really like the first two and find I have to supplement the 3rd as
it doesn't have normal distribution and sampling techniques in it. The cost
to the student of purchasing all 3 modules is TOTAL around $20. Some of the
students are selective when selling them back to the bookstore. Keeping this
one...selling this one back.
Sure hope this helps. The good news for us lately has been that the U. of
Arizona's School of Education has been encouraging it's elementary education
majors to take the course because it gives a broad basis in the "everyman,
everyday" uses of mathematics.
Barbara C. Armenta
Pima Community College - East Campus
Tucson, AZ
****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: majordomo@archives.math.utk.edu *
* In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe mathedcc *
* Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************