Introduction
1. Introduction
Mathematics 20-3 Introduction
Table of Contents
Welcome to Mathematics 20-3
In Mathematics 20-3 you will learn and discover new math concepts through exploration and communicating with others. Through these discussions with your fellow learners, you will learn to communicate and reason mathematically as well as express your understanding.
The Alberta Program of Studies sets out what students are expected to learn in mathematics courses. These expectations are organized into topics. Under each topic is one or more general outcome.
The five Mathematics 20-3 topics and their general outcomes are shown in the following table. For a complete list of the specific learning outcomes related to Mathematics 20-3, please search “Mathematics 20-3 Program of Studies” on the Alberta Education web page.
|
Topics |
General Outcomes |
|
Measurement |
Develop spatial sense through direct and indirect measurement. |
Geometry |
Develop spatial sense. |
| Number | Develop number sense and critical thinking skills. |
| Algebra | Develop algebraic reasoning. |
| Statistics | Develop statistical reasoning. |
Mathematics 20-3 Textbook
The textbook you will be using for this course is Mathworks 11 (Pacific Educational Press).
LearnAlberta.ca
LearnAlberta.ca is a protected digital learning resource environment for Alberta students. This Alberta Education portal, found at http://www.learnalberta.ca/, is a place where you can support your learning by accessing the online version of Mathematics 20-3 Learn EveryWare along with resources for projects, homework, help, review, or study.
For example, LearnAlberta.ca contains a large Online Reference Centre that includes multimedia encyclopedias, journals, newspapers, transcripts, images, maps, and more. The National Geographic site contains many current video clips that have been indexed for Alberta Programs of Study. The content on LearnAlberta.ca is organized by grade level, subject, and curriculum objective. Use the search engine to quickly find key concepts. Check this site often as new interactive multimedia segments are being added all the time.
To access some of the resources on LearnAlberta.ca, a password may be required. If you find a password is required, contact your teacher or school to get one. No fee is required to use LearnAlberta.
Learning Environments
Mathematics 20-3 students will be completing this course in a variety of learning environments, including traditional classrooms, online/virtual schools, home education, outreach programs, and alternative programs.
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Instructional Design
Explanation
The learning model used in Mathematics 20-3 is designed to be engaging and to have you participate in inquiry and problem solving. You will actively interpret and critically reflect on your learning process. Learning begins within a commmunity setting at the centre of a larger process of teaching and learning. You will be encouraged to share your knowledge and experiences by interaction, feedback, debate, and negotiation.
Components
Mathematics 20-3 consists of seven modules:
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Module 1: Becoming Money Wise
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Module 2: The Ups and Downs of Interest
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Module 3: Slope and Rate of Change
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Module 4: The Right Kind of Triangles
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Module 5: Representing Objects Using Scale and Views
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Module 6: Surface Area
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Module 7: Volume and Capacity
This course uses the following instructional design to connect you to the relevant curriculum and concepts in Mathematics 20-3. These components are used throughout this course and will help you see the context and overall content of the program.
Parts of a Module
Each module consists of content developed around a general or major learning outcome. Modules are made up of lessons and include the Module Introduction, Module Project, and Module Summary.
Module Introduction
This is the first major part of a module and is where the topic of the module is introduced. The critical question(s) that will be investigated throughout the module are posed here. Various strategies for success, as well as an overview of the module project, are also given.
Module or Section Project
In each module you will complete a Module Project and/or a Section Project or two Section Projects. Module and section projects are designed to help you apply your understanding of mathematical concepts and your problem-solving skills to real-world situations. In many cases you will complete a part of the module project or section project at the end of each lesson. Not all lessons will have a module project or section project component. Any project work you complete during a lesson should be stored in your project folder.
Module Summary
Each Module Summary describes what you have accomplished in the module and provides a transition to the next module.
Major Parts of a Lesson
Focus
This is the first major part of a lesson and focuses the module topic to the level of the lesson. This component includes the lesson introduction, learning objectives, a list of materials needed, lesson question(s), and a list of assessment items.
Launch
Launch checks to see if you have the necessary background knowledge and skills required to successfully complete the lesson. In the first part of Launch, called Are You Ready?, you will answer questions designed to check your readiness for the lesson. If you have trouble with the questions in Are You Ready?, you will review resources provided in the second part of Launch, called Refresher. If you sailed through the questions, you will skip Refresher and jump right into the rest of the lesson.
Discover
In the Discover part of the lesson you will start constructing your own meaning of the mathematical concepts that will be covered in the lesson.
Explore
In Explore you will work to really understand the lesson concepts.
Connect
You will bring your new learning together in Connect. First you will complete the Lesson Assignment, and then you will work on the Module Project or the Section Project. Or, in some cases, you will do these two tasks in reverse order. Finally, you may choose to complete Going Beyond. Going Beyond is optional—you have the choice of challenging and enriching your knowledge and skills beyond the lesson by completing activities in this section.
Lesson Summary
In this section the content and concepts developed in the lesson are summarized.
Secondary Parts of a Lesson
It is important to note that these parts may be used in any order and may potentially be repeated in order to present the lesson content.
Glossary
You will come across math-related words that are unfamiliar to you. These words will be used over and over again, so it is important that you understand their meaning. In each module you will be given an electronic document called Mathematics 20-3: Glossary Terms. You will save this document in your course folder. Each time you come across a new term in Mathematics 20-3, add the term and a definition to your copy of Mathematics 20-3: Glossary Terms.
Formula Sheet
You will be provided with an electronic document called Formula Sheet. You will save this document in your course folder. When you come across a new formula, add the formula, examples, and any notes to your copy of Formula Sheet. Your copy of Formula Sheet will serve as an electronic database that you can use to identify, describe, and manipulate formulas.
Self-Check
Self-Check provides you with a set of questions that you can use for practice, to gain competency, and to check your progress. After you answer each question, access the sample answer provided. If you struggle with a question, you may need to spend more time reviewing resources and you might want to talk to your teacher.
Try This
In the Try This section of a lesson you will respond to a set of questions or complete a task. You are not provided with sample answers. In some instances, Try This activities may be investigated further as you progress through the lesson. In other cases, your teacher may use Try This questions or tasks to assess your progress.
Share
In Share activities you work with a partner or group to exchange ideas and knowledge and to think about and respond to what has been presented in the exchange. This may involve communication using a virtual medium, such as e-mail or a discussion board, or a direct method, such as a phone call or a face-to-face conversation.
Hints and Rhetorical Questions
You will come across Hint buttons.
When you do, float your mouse over the button to access a hint.
Sometimes you will be asked a question that is intended only to get you thinking.
These are rhetorical questions—you are meant to answer these questions in your head only. You can check your answer by rolling your mouse over the Answer button. Does that make sense to you?
Course Folder
This is included as a reminder to save your completed work in your course folder.
You will save all of your work in your course folder. Talk to your teacher now about where and how to set up your course folder. Your teacher can ask to see your course folder at any time.
Assessment
Your assessment will be based on a combination of the following tasks:
- completion of Lesson Assignments
- course folder submissions from Try This and Share activities
- additions to Mathematics 20-3: Glossary Terms and the Formula Sheet
- completion of Module Projects and Section Projects
For clear viewing of equations in Microsoft® Office Word documents, Euclid fonts are required. You can download the fonts from the following website if you do not already have them:
http://www.dessci.com/en/dl/fonts/getfont.asp
Toolkit
The Toolkit is a collection of resources that you will access repeatedly throughout the course. For example, you can access grid-paper templates in the Toolkit at any time.
Visual Cues (Icons)
You will see icons throughout the course. As you have seen above, icons are used to represent the various components of lessons. Icons are also used to provide clues regarding the type of activity or resource you are about to begin or use. These icons and their meanings are as follows:
assignment |
caution |
formula sheet |
glossary |
isearch |
textbook |
course folder |
|
