2022 Spring Course Syllabus - Mathematics 0828.001
Course: Mathematics 0828.001.
Course Title: CRITICAL REASONING AND PROBLEM SOLVING.
Credits: 4.
How this course will be taught: ONLINE.
Time: 1:30-3:10.
Place: NONE.
Instructor: Raymond F. Coughlin.
Instructor Office: 1033 WACHMAN HALL.
Instructor Email: raymond.coughlin@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-1659.
Office Hours: TU, TH, 12:30-1:30.
Prerequisites: NONE.
Course Materials: All materials are online.
Course Goals: ÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬Ã¦"Critical analysisÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬à ¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâÃÂ, ÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬Ã¦"Formal reasoningÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬à ¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâàand ÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬Ã¦"Critical thinkingÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬à ¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâàare terms which are consistently used by professors in explanations of what is required by students in their college level work. Professors often refer to a lack of critical analysis in feedback in student assignments. But to actually give a rigorous definition to ÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬Ã¦"critical reasoningÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬à ¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâàis hard to do. ItÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâìs like ÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬Ã¦"gravity,ÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬à ¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâàwe know what it does, its effects, but we donÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâìt have a definition of it. It can be thought of as a higher level or more rigorous thinking. It has also been described as ÃÆÃ'Ãâ ââ¬ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃââÃÆÃ'ÃââÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¡ÃÆââ¬Å¡ÃâìÃÆÃ'âââ¬Ã¦"the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information gathered from, or generalized by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or communication, as a guide to belief or action [or argument]. (Scriven & Paul, 2001). The course teaches you how to deal with and solve complex problems by confronting them with critical analysis. We look at these problems both from an historical perspective and the practical view of how and when these types of problems affect the students' everyday lives. The course takes students through several key mathematical disciplines, including probability and statistics, including the hallmark of probability - reasoning under uncertainty - as well as set theory and counting techniques and graphing, especially with Venn diagrams, a skill you will find beneficial as the world turns to technology and graphics. For example, when we introduce probability, we cover the first dramatic application of the discipline, Mendel's discovery of the centuries-old problem of explaining the scientific laws of heredity as he gives birth to genetics. We also cover Mendel's use of statistics.
Topics Covered: CRITICAL THINKING, LOGICAL FALLACIES, ARGUMENTS, SIMILAR REASONING.
Course Grading: Grades: There will be three one hour exams, each graded on a 100-point scale. The final exam will be worth 100 points. You must take the final exam. The lowest score of the three one-hour exams will be dropped. Thus there will be a total of 300 points. If you miss an hour-exam that will be the exam that is dropped. Grading: A(92%) A-(90%) B+(88%) B(82%) B-(80%) C+(78%) C(72%) C-(70%) D+(68%) D(65%) D-(62%).
Exam Dates: Exams: Exam 1: Th, 2-10: Exam 2: Th, 3-24: Exam 3:Th, 4-14: Final Exam: Th, 4-28 (1:00-3:00).
Attendance Policy: ATTENDANCE AT ZOOM MEETINGS IS OPTIONAL.
Attendance and Your Health: To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to your instructors' requirements. However, if you feel unwell or if you are under quarantine or in isolation because you have been exposed to the virus or tested positive for it, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. It is the student's responsibility to contact their instructors to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as they are able to do so, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion, when illness delays their completion.
Disability Statement: Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) in Howard Gittis Student Center South, Rm 420 (drs@temple.edu; 215-204-1280) to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.
Academic Freedom: Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here (opens in new tab/window).
Add/Drop Policy: Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date. Check the University calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates.
During the Drop/Add period, students may drop a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript. Students are not financially responsible for any courses dropped during this period. In the following weeks prior to or on the withdrawal date students may withdraw from a course with the grade of "W" appearing on their transcript. After the withdrawal date students may not withdraw from courses. Check the University Calendar (opens in new tab/window) for exact dates. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).
Incomplete Policy: The grade "I" (an "incomplete") is only given if students cannot complete the course work due to circumstances beyond their control. It is necessary for the student to have completed the majority of the course work with a passing average and to sign an incomplete contract which clearly states what is left for the student to do and the deadline by which the work must be completed. The incomplete contract must also include a default grade that will be used in case the "I" grade is not resolved by the agreed deadline. See the full policy by clicking here (opens in new tab/window).
Expectations for Class Conduct: The best way to maintain a safe and focused learning environment is for everyone to get vaccinated. Masks must be worn by vaccinated and unvaccinated people in all indoor or in enclosed spaces (including classrooms, the Library, the TECH Center, the Student Center, shuttles/buses, administrative spaces, common areas in residence halls, etc.). For your general health and well-being, hand washing and monitoring your health is still highly recommended.
Student Support Services:
The following academic support services are available to students (all links open in a new tab/window):
The Math Consulting Center
Student Success Center
University Libraries
Undergraduate Research Support
Career Center
Tuttleman Counseling Services
Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University
Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.
For courses in remote mode:
Technology specifications for this course: A working computer with a reliable internet connection, a Webcam, and audio capability. Recommended Internet Speed: 8mbps download & 5mbps upload. You can test your connection at https://www.speedtest.net. Please note: Hard-wired connections are more consistent than Wi-Fi for Zoom sessions. A scanning app such as AdobeScan or CamScanner is required as is access to Zoom and Canvas (the Canvas app is also recommended).
Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi-access, should submit a request outlining their needs using the Student Emergency Aid Fund form. The University will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Mifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access.
Remote proctoring statement: Zoom, Proctorio or a similar proctoring tool may be used to proctor exams and quizzes in this course. These tools verify your identity and record online actions and surroundings. It is your responsibility to have the necessary government or school issued ID, a laptop or desktop computer with a reliable internet connection, the Google Chrome and Proctorio extension, a webcam/built-in camera and microphone, and system requirements for using Proctorio, Zoom, or a similar proctoring tool. Before the exam begins, the proctor may require a scan of the room in which you are taking the exam.
Online Classroom Etiquette: It is expected that each student attends every class on time for the full duration of each class and behaves, in the same professional manner, as if you are in a regular classroom. This refers in particular to your location and attire. It is not appropriate to eat a large meal, drink alcohol, smoke, or get up often during an online class.
Statement on recording and distribution of recordings of class sessions: Any recordings permitted in this class can only be used for the student's personal educational use. Students are not permitted to copy, publish, or redistribute audio or video recordings of any portion of the class session to individuals who are not students in the course or academic program without the express permission of the faculty member and of any students who are recorded. Distribution without permission may be a violation of educational privacy law known as FERPA as well as certain copyright laws. Any recordings made by the instructor or university of this course are the property of Temple University.