Pre-Calculus


(Mathematics Cluster)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This integrated, collaboratively taught Pre-Calculus Core class will provide all students an opportunity to study functions, statistics, graphs, matrices, trigonometry, and other related subjects, so they will know about, understand, and better appreciate mathematical facts, concepts, and applications through textbook lessons, mental arithmetic, and technology laboratories. By satisfying requirements of this study, all students will become more informed, skilled, productive, employable, and socially responsible citizens.

SWRSD OUTCOMES

Outcome 6: Students exhibit a positive attitude and self-initiative.
Outcome 7: Students use a variety of ways to think and to reason when solving problems and making thoughtful decisions.
Outcome 9: Students use technology for adapting to and initiating productive change.
Outcome 11: Students demonstrate skills and attitudes that will enable them to achieve post high school education.

COURSE OUTLINE

CONTENT (Essential course facts, concepts, and basic skills; assessed with teacher -made tests and rubrics )

Major Components of Study

A. Textbook Lessons

Alaska Content Standard(s):
Standard B: Mathematics
(A student should understand and be able to select and use a variety of problem solving strategies.)

Key Elements: Students will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

use computational methods and appropriate technology as problem-solving tools;
Students will:
apply the definitions of trigonometric functions based on unit circle.
use problem solving to investigate and understand mathematical content;
Students will:
apply the concepts of group and field.
work with a conjunction and a disjunction.
identify the equations of the conic sections.
apply real number exponents.
apply logarithmic functions and exponential functions.
apply relationship between a logarithmic and exponential function.
apply laws and properties of logarithmic and exponential functions.
formulate mathematical problems that arise from everyday situations;
develop and apply strategies to solve a variety of problems;
Students will:
prove by direct, indirect, math induction, and truth tables.
graph using the six trigonometric functions and variables.
find amplitude, period, and phase.
apply the results of combining functions.
apply common identities.
solve trigonometric equations.
apply the polar coordinate system.
apply complex numbers and limits.
apply operations of vectors and matrices.
solve systems using matrices.
identify the equations of the conic sections.
graph the conic sections by using the major components of each.
solve logarithmic and exponential equations.
find the limit of a function.
use common sense to help interpret results;
Students will:
prove by direct, indirect, math induction, and truth tables
apply what was learned to new situations; and
Students will:
establish new identification based on other identification.
apply limits to the other areas of mathematics.
use mathematics with confidence.

Standard C: Mathematics
(A student should understand and be able to form and use appropriate methods to define and explain mathematical relationships.)

Key Elements: Students will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

express and represent mathematical ideas using oral and written presentations, physical materials, pictures graphs, charts, and algebraic expressions;
Students will:
graph using the six trigonometric functions and variables.
graph the conic sections by using the major components of each.
relate mathematical terms to everyday language;
Students will:
know what a vector and a matrix is.
know the difference between arithmetic and geometric sequences and series.
know what a sequence and a series is.
know the difference between finite and infinite.
know the four different conic sections.
know what a limit is.
develop, test, and defend mathematical hypotheses; and
Students will:
show a proof with vectors and matrices.
clarify mathematical ideas through discussion with others.
Students will:
know what a vector and a matrix is.
know the difference between arithmetic and geometric sequences and series.
know what a sequence and a series is.
know the difference between finite and infinite.
know the four different conic sections.
know what a limit is.


B. Logic Exercises

Alaska Content Standard(s):

Standard D: Mathematics
(A student should be able to use logic and reason to solve mathematical problems.)

Key Elements: Students will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

C. Mental Arithmetic

Alaska Content Standards: Standard A: Mathematics
(A student should understand mathematical facts, concepts, principles, and theories.)

Key Elements: Students will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to
D. Calculator/Computer Laboratories

Alaska Content Standard(s):
Standard B: Mathematics
(A student should understand and be able to select and use a variety of problem solving strategies.)

Key Elements: Students will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

Standard E: Mathematics
(A student should be able to apply mathematical concepts and processes to situations within and outside of school.)

Key Elements: Student will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

Standard C: Technology
(A student should be able to use technology to explore ideas, solve problems, and derive meaning.)

Key Elements: Students will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

SKILLS (Essential processes or skills, universally taught by all teachers in all courses; assessed with teacher -made rubrics and/or tests )

Major Categories of Skills

A. Cross-curricular and/or Integrative Skills

Key Elements: Student will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

1. effectively communicate (listen, observe, read, write, discuss, present, explain, persuade, defend)
3. use a variety of higher order thinking skills (hypothesizing, estimating, analyzing, classifying, synthesizing, evaluating,inferring, generalizing) to solve common day-to-day problems
Key Elements: Student will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

C. Life and/or Employability Skills

Key Elements: Student will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

respect and treat others equally, from the perspective of the needs and rights of all people
D. Cultural Relevance:



Alaska Content Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools: Student Standards A-E

Key Elements: Student will know about, understand, and demonstrate the ability to

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES AND MATERIALS


A. Community Resources Related to Course

Each individual and/or team of instructors, with the help of long time staff, students, parents and other concerned community members should cooperatively compile and periodically update a list of village elders, parents, local government leaders, business persons, and other concerned, active members of the community willing to share their wealth of experiences, knowledge and skills. If available, specific examples should be included now.

B. Major Internet Web Site Addresses Related to Course (a tiny sample)

Free Federal Resources for Academic Excellence: www.ed.gov/free/subject
ITO Interdisciplinary Projects: www.fred.net/nhhs/html/ito
PBS Mathline www.pbs.org/learn/mathline
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics www.nctm.org
Mega-Mathematics www.c3.lanl.gov/mega-math/
Math games,toys, puzzles www.sal.cs.uiuc.edu/~Jeffe/mathgames
Appetizers and lessons for math and reason www.cam.org/~aselbui/lesson
Geometry forum forum.swarthmore.edu
AIMS education foundation 204.161.33.100/aims
Project mathematics www.projmath.caltech.edu
Annenburg/CPB math/science project www.learner.org
Geometry center www.geom.umn.edu

C. Media Center: Southwest Region School District
Contact Roz Goodman, the Southwest Region Media Specialist, for help. She has lists of materials related to specific subject areas and will help you find Internet resources or other materials
D. Itinerant Travel Kits and/or Permanent Core Skills Instructors' Materials

Donald in Mathemagics Land; Stand and Deliver; Life by the Numbers.






A History of Mathematics; Journey through Genius; A Brief History of Time; An Old Man's Toy; Science for All Americans.

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(Assessment Guidelines and Grading still "under construction" and awaiting additional in-put)

Teacher-made tests of content units will be required: pretests, quizzes, Unit Tests, Final Exams

Processes/Skills will be assessed Rubrics, checklists, et.al.

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(The Following Still Needs Input, Thought, and Work)

ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES AND GRADING



The primary goal of this class is to give all students an opportunity to gain essential new knowledge, comprehension, and skills. To determine if all students are actually attaining this goal, regular, in-progress assessment of student progress will be part of daily in-progress activities and final student projects.

CONTENT KNOWLEDGE TESTS

Minimum Requirements : At the very least, course Content will be regularly assessed with traditional
Teacher-made Tests (multiple choice, completion, true/false, matching, short essay).
Suggestions:
CRITERION-REFERENCED TESTS (CRT's)
STUDENT PERFORMANCE RUBRICS

EXTRA CREDIT WORK

In order to encourage students to pursue high level performances and quality products, all students who have completed required work, including any expected revisions, should be given an opportunity and encouraged to do Extra Credit work that might increase the depth and/or breadth of their understanding.
GRADING

All students will be held accountable for meeting the minimum requirements of all courses and will earn grades based on their ability to demonstrate the acquisition of basic content knowledge and comprehension, and their ability to apply specific essential skills to produce quality finished products. Final Grades in all courses will follow on a traditional "A", "B", "C", "D", "F", "I", system.
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