MATH 505: Educational Issues in Undergraduate Mathematics (Fall 2007)

Instructor: David Henderson

Meeting Time & Room

This semester the course will focus on the question: How would we like students who enter 4-year colleges (and universities) to come prepared in mathematics? There is currently little consensus on the answer to this question; however, there is general consensus that the current situation is not satisfactory: According to the latest CBMS Survey of mathematics departments in 4-year colleges, in any given semester about 55-60% of the students taking mathematics courses are taking courses whose content is pre-calculus or lower — content normally taught in high school.

We will examine various views as to the causes of the current situation and then examine various proposed answers to the focus question. These examinations will involve us looking at historical, pedagogical, epistemological, developmental, and meaning of mathematics issues.

The course is suitable for interested graduate students in mathematics or education and other students with an interest in the topic of the course.