Math 8 S08
Walton
Possibilities for Extra Credit
Here are several opportunities to earn extra credit for your grade in this class. It would be added to your total semester score before calculation of your final letter grade. Each possible activity may earn up to 4% extra credit depending on the quantity and quality of your work. Your total extra credit for the semester cannot exceed 10%.
All work for extra credit must be handed in by the last regular class meeting, Wednesday May 14.
1) Watch some
mathematics videos in the
2) Write and hand in a typewritten 3-5 page paper with the specific components described below.
1) First choose a video series:
2) Then watch
video totaling one hour
If you choose I For All Practical Purposes, then:
a) Choose one of the five categories from the following list of tapes in the " For All Practical Purposes " series.
b) In your chosen category watch the " Overview " tape (30 minutes).
c) Then choose ONE of the special topics in the same category and watch that tape (30 minutes) in addition to the overview.
If you choose II Life by the Numbers, then:
a) Choose one of the seven titles and watch that tape. (1 hour)
3) Now write a
report
For either series
your assignment is:
Write a 3 - 5 page paper with two main parts:
a) a thoughtful summary and analysis of the content material of the two tapes - not just a list of contents, and
b) a critique/evaluation of the good and bad features of the tapes - as math or video or educational tools.
Where are the video tapes?
Tapes and video players are available in the
For All Practical Purposes is located on the media reference shelves (QA7.F683 1985 26V.
Life by the Numbers is located at the check out desk. Tell the library staff it's on reserve for Math G – Moira Davis and show this handout with your selected tape.
For All Practical Purposes Contents
CATEGORY NUMBER ONE Management Science
Tape # 1 Overview
Tape # 2 Street Smarts
Tape # 3 Trains, planes and critical paths
Tape # 4 Scheduling Problems
Tape # 5 Linear Programming
CATEGORY NUMBER TWO Statistics
Tape # 6 Overview
Tape # 7 Collecting Data
Tape # 8 Organizing Data
Tape # 9 Probability
Tape # 10 Statistical Inference
CATEGORY NUMBER THREE Social Choice
Tape # 11 Overview
Tape # 12 Election Theory
Tape # 13 Weighted Voting
Tape # 14 Zero Sum Games
Tape # 15 Prisoner's Dilemma
CATEGORY NUMBER FOUR Size and Shape
Tape # 16 Overview
Tape # 17 Scale and Form
Tape # 18 Populations
Tape # 19 Conic Sections
Tape # 20 Measurement
CATEGORY NUMBER FIVE Computer Science
Tape # 21 Overview
Tape # 22 Algorithms
Tape # 23 Numerical Representation
Tape # 24 Encoding Information
Tape # 25 Computer Graphics
Tape # 26 Conclusion
Life by the Numbers Contents
Tape # 1 Seeing is Believing - computers and graphic special effects
Tape # 2 The Numbers Game - scores and statistics in sports
Tape # 3 Patterns of Nature - mathematics in biology and science
Tape # 4 Chances of a Lifetime - probability and decision making
Tape # 5 Shape of the World - geometry and maps
Tape # 6 A New Age - math in computer programming
Tape # 7 Making a Difference - teaching and the mathematics classroom
This assignment can be done on
a computer in the Mission College Computer Lab (upstairs in
The assignment requires an exploration of material on the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Teaching website ( MERLOT - a national collaborative project of many college and university systems). You will visit several mathematics resources and write an evaluation of them. You will then post them online.
What do you have to do?
1) Watch an online video about the purpose of the MERLOT project at http://taste.merlot.org/merlotvideos.html by selecting one of the four possible video player modes in the Merlot Videos and Podcasts - Overview of Merlot section.
2) Go to and explore the MERLOT home page at:http://www.merlot.org/
3) Next follow the link from the home page to the Mathematics discipline community – or go directly to: http://mathematics.merlot.org/ Explore this material.
4) Follow the link to browse learning materials or go directly to: http://www.merlot.org/merlot/materials.htm?community=3022
5) Explore several of the links to math learning material by checking out the actual website and by reading some peer reviews and some user comments on the MERLOT page. Be careful not to leave the Math area.
6) Write your own thoughtful member comments on the math learning material websites that you have visited - that include answers to all of the following:
a. How did you review the materials (Did you spend 5 minutes browsing, 2 hours trying it, or actually use it in teaching-learning activities? – describe what you did).
b. Evaluate the quality of content (Does the material accurately present concepts and models that are educationally significant? – explain why)
c. Evaluate the potential effectiveness for enhancing teaching and learning (If used appropriately, will students' learning and faculty's teaching be enhanced? – explain why)
d. Evaluate the ease of using the materials (Will first time users find it easy to use the software? – explain why)
??? What do you have to turn in to me for your extra credit grade????
IF YOU HAVE AN E_MAIL
ADDRESS
1) Become a student member of MERLOT – click on the "Become a member Today" link on the MERLOT home page or go to: http://www.merlot.org/merlot/join.htm
MERLOT will email you a password.
2) Write member comments (see 6 above ) on THREE different links/sites on the math listings.
3) Post those member comments on the MERLOT site.
a. Log in as a member with your password
b. Go to the detail page of the link you have reviewed
c. Click "Add" beside member comments
d. Fill out the form and submit it online
4) Turn in to Ian the names of the learning material pages where you have posted member comments – I will go online and read them
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN E_MAIL ADDRESS
1) Write member comments on FOUR different links from the math listings.
2) Turn the complete comments in to Ian in class.
Research, write and hand in a 3 – 5 page typewritten term paper that describes real life applications of some of the mathematics techniques that you have learned in this class. Explain how it is used in your work or in one of your other classes. Include real examples. Explain what it is that the math allows you to do that could not be done without the math. Include all citation references to any reference material that you use in preparation of your paper.