[MATHEDCC] Re: -Reply

Dan Alexander (dalexander@PARKLAND.CC.IL.US)
Mon, 22 Mar 1999 12:47:49 -0600

Alan,
My name is Dan Alexander ( Parkland Math Dept ). I teach the Geometry
course here. It seems that Illinois Community Colleges have overlooked
the need for a geometry course for decades. I'm pleased to hear that
Kaskaskia is seriously considering the need to better prepare its
students by inclusion of a geometry course.
Some say that Geometry can be learned in the context of other courses,
which would be comparable to the student learning algebra while doing
calculus. REALLY BAD NEWS!
Rather than have a student take advanced courses such as trig and calc
without a geometry background, we have enforced the GEOMETRY
pre-requisite here . . . usually two sections per semester ( Fall, Spring ).
To my knowledge, there is no on-line course - lots of memory chewed up
with art figures.
I use my book ( Houghton-Mifflin, 2nd ed,1999 ) which in no way "waters
down" geometry. Most publishers are unwilling to spend the $$$ needed
to get a Geometry text with adequate artwork! This textbook ( thanks to
HM ) allows for a complete course.
You could probably teach a minimal Geometry course in a 3 semester
hour setting. Our Parkland course is 4 semester hours, so that we
include final chapters in AREA and VOLUME, with any surplus devoted
to a brief intro to Analytic Geometry or to Trigonometry.
Let me know if there is any further info I can provide.
At the IMACC Conference ( April ), a position statement regarding the
need to enforce the Geometry requirement at Illinois community colleges
will be drawn up.

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