MATH 312

Math 312: Elementary and Middle Grades Mathematics for Social Analysis

Prerequisites: Any MATH or STAT class or a passing score on a placement test approved by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Credit Hours: (3)

This course will prepare future elementary and middle school teachers to critically analyze and explore the world using mathematics. Students will conduct real-world investigations and critiques using elementary and middle school mathematics. This course examines the interplay among mathematical topics and integrates mathematics across the curriculum. Students are introduced to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM] Standards and to the Virginia Standards of Learning. Mathematical content include topics in algebra, data analysis, and probability.

Detailed Description of Course

This course has several emphases:
    1) This course supports students as they deepen and increase their understanding of elementary and middle grades mathematics content. In addition, the course gives the students experiences engaging in authentic real-world problems.  
    2) It may also focus on pedagogy that emphasizes techniques to teach mathematics for understanding using mathematics manipulatives and technology.
    3) This course prepares students to identify and use mathematics within other disciplines and to identify and examine the relevance and significance of having and using mathematical knowledge for civic purposes.

Mathematical content focuses on algebra, probability and data analysis.

1. Algebraic Thinking
   1. Operations with monomials and polynomials   
   2. Fundamental idea of equality
   3. Solving equations and formulas
   4. Arithmetic and geometric sequences and series
   5. Relations and functions
   6. Cartesian graphs
   7. Linear functions
   8. Mathematical models
2. Data Analysis
   1. Formulating statistical questions
   2. Gathering data and using samples
   3. Displaying data and interpreting data displays, including box-and-whisker plots
   4. Measures of center
   5. Predicting, analyzing, summarizing, and describing data
   6. Comparing data distributions
3. Probability
   1. Basic principles of theoretical and experimental probability
   2. Counting the number of outcomes
   3. Calculating probabilities in simple and multistage experiments

Interdisciplinary content varies semester to semester depending on current issues, student interest, and text selection. Students will engage in mathematical investigations of the world using algebra, proportional reasoning, and probability and data analysis that includes available technologies. Interdisciplinary content may include connections to science, social studies, and language arts.

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Course instructors model instruction strategies that students may use as future teachers such as cooperative/group learning and projects, student research and presentations both in and outside the classroom, small group and whole class discussions and questioning, and student explorations of mathematical concepts using manipulatives and technology.  

Student Goals and Objectives of the Course

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Use mathematics to engage in authentic real-world problems.
2. Use mathematics as a tool to participate and investigate local and global issues.
3. Critique the ethical uses of mathematics and statistics in real world situations.
4. Link mathematics with society.

Assessment Measures

Assessments may include: individual or group projects and/or presentations, or writing assignments, or self/peer assessments, or class participation, homework assignments, or quizzes, or tests.

Other Course Information

None

 

Review and Approval  

May 6, 2026

November 7, 2017
February 20, 2017
Revised April 13, 2012