Re: Mathematical Modeling Course

Rob Kimball (rlkimbal@WTCC-GW.WAKE.TEC.NC.US)
Thu, 12 Dec 1996 10:16:16 -0500

You, in Maryland, are not alone. The statement that everyone needs
to have an intermediate level foundation in algebra, intermediate
being defined by the content of current texts, is debatable. I think
that trying to pass everyone in high school through the algebra I and II
filter (the old Algebra--if that helps) has done much to turn people off
to math. Much of it is just not applicable to most people. NCTM and AMATYC
have done much to redefine what is important to teach and what will make
sense to most people. The content of "Algebra for All" courses contain
more material that is meaningful and applicable to most people. The
content described in the FOUNDATION (AMATYC) certainly contains many
topics not found in most algebra courses. So, the trick is to find a
way to provide students in tracks that are not math-centered enough of
the skills in algebra to (1) get them through the material that is meaningful
(modeling, statistics, numerical analysis, graphical analysis, ...) thus
enabling them to appreciate the subject and understand how to apply it,
and (2) enable the to continue to learn and grow both as a citizen/consumer
and as an employee/employer. Therefore, I think we in the math ed community
must break the algebra I/II, beg. alg/int. alg/college alg. mold. There
are much better ways to package and deliver our wonderful subject.

Rob Kimball

On Thu, 12 Dec 1996, Judy E. Ackerman wrote:

> Although the Intermediate Algebra seems to be the emerging prerequisite
> course to college level general education mathematics, we in Maryland are
> discovering that it is not so easy to come to grips with exactly what it
> is. I'd be interested in some comments on the obectives that comprise
> intermediate algebra AND are what students should have going into a
> general education mathematics course with an intermediate algebra
> prerequisite. How much algebraic manipulation would you expect to see?
> How do you "quantify" mathematical maturity and ability to think??? More
> important, how do you describe these things to nonmathematicians who may
> be educational policymakers?
>
> Judy Ackerman
> Montgomery College
> Rockville MD
>
> On Thu, 12 Dec 1996, Vern Kays wrote:
>
> > Please make your course pre-requiste Intermediate Algebra for a college
> > level course. We will be doing our students no favor by reduce the content
> > level needed for college courses that could transfer.
> >
> > Vern Kays
> > At 10:27 PM 12/11/96 -0500, Geoffrey Akst wrote:
> > >We at Manhattan CC are interested in developing a liberal arts elective
> > >course in Mathematical Modeling. The prerequisite would be Elementary
> > >Algebra. Does anyone have such a course? If so, what text are you using?
> > >Thanks for replying.
> > >
> > >Geoff Akst
> > >
> >
>