Monthly Archives: December 2014

Final grades are posted

Announcements, Grades

Hi everyone,

Your final grades for the course have been posted to CUNYfirst, and are also available on the OpenLab on our GRADES page.  The OpenLab grades contain all the detail for the semester, including your final exam grade.  Let me know if you have any questions.

You’ve been a great group – have a wonderful holiday break and best of luck in the new year!

Prof. Reitz

 

Week 14 Assignments

Assignments

Written work – The following are due next Tuesday, 12/16 suggested (for practice), but not required (and will not be collected).
Sec 12.3 p207: 1
Sec 12.5 p214: 2,6
Sec 12.6 p216: 1,2
Sec 13.1 p222: 1,4,5
WeBWorK – none
OpenLab – Project Reflection (details are on the OpenLab, submit your work by email), Due Tuesday, 12/16.

Project Reflection

Project,

This assignment is the final deliverable for your project (worth 10 points).  It is an individual, not a group, assignment and should be submitted by email, not on the OpenLab.

The Semester Project consisted of a number of related activities and assignments – before you begin writing, please take a look at the list and click each of the links to remind yourself  of all the parts of the project.

Assignment (Due Tuesday, December 16th, at midnight).  SUBMIT BY EMAIL, NOT ON THE OPENLAB.  This is your chance to reflect on the Semester Project, and to describe your contributions to the major group activities.   Please respond to all of the following.

Part 1 (200 words minimum).  Write one or two paragraphs reflecting on the Semester Project, from the initial assignment (“let the games begin”) through to the final presentations.  You can use the following questions to guide your writing if you wish (or you can respond in whatever way you wish):

  • What was your overall impression of the project?  What did you enjoy the most? Least?
  • Do you feel that the project enhanced your experience of the class?  Was the project related to the course material?
  • How did you feel during the process? What was the best moment? The worst?
  • Was the project scaffolded appropriately? Did you need more or different support for any of the assignments? Do you have any suggestions for making the project more effective?
  • Do you have any advice for future students in MAT 2071 about the project?

Part 2.  Describe your  personal contributions to the final two major group assignments, the group paper and the group presentation.  Do you think that you were an equal contributor in your group? Be as specific as you can.

Group Process Paper – submissions

Project, , ,

Thanks to everyone for submitting your papers – I’ve only glanced through them so far, but I’m impressed with what you were able to accomplish in a short time!  I’m posting them here, in case you are interested in taking a look.

  • Bridges and Walking Tours Group (SinFong) – paper
  • Mutilated Checkerboards (Julia, Joseph M, Latina, Sidney) – paper, examples
  • Mutilated Checkerboards (Jian, Rushda, Joseph R, Stacy) – paper
  • MIU Game (Marina, Leonardo, Farjana, Victor) – paper

 

Schedule of Group Presentations

Project,

Group Presentation will take place on Tuesday 12/16 and Thursday 12/18 at the beginning of class.  If you are using a PowerPoint or other slides, please come to class a few minutes early and load your slides onto the classroom computer.

Tuesday 12/9

  • SinFong – Bridges and Walking Tours
  • Julia, Joseph M, Latina, Sidney – Mutilated Checkerboards

Thursday 12/11

  • Jian, Rushda, Joseph R, Stacy – Mutilated Checkerboards
  • Marina, Leonardo, Farjana, Victor – MIU Game

 

Semester Project – Group Presentations: Description and Grading Criteria

Project, , , ,

The last significant group assignment for your semester project is a group presentation (there will be one more individual assignment, a reflection on the process).  I’ll put the details here, followed by an outline of the grading criteria (the presentation is worth 20 points total).

Semester Project – Group Presentation

This is your chance to share your group’s work with the rest of the class.  Each group will give a 5-8 minute presentation, including the following items:

  • Briefly describe the rules of your puzzle (you can include an example).  The class has had a chance to look at these puzzle before, so this serves as a reminder of the rules instead of a step-by-step training.
  • State your conjecture (this should be written down, either on a slide or on the board).  Give an explanation, and an example to demonstrate your conjecture.
  • If you were able to prove your conjecture, give a proof.  If not, describe briefly some of the ideas you had and strategies you tried while trying to prove it.
  • Give the class at least one puzzle to work on on their own – a challenge!
  • Give the audience a chance to ask questions (either during the presentation, or after).

Keep in mind the following:

  • You may use a PowerPoint or other presentation, or simply give your talk in front of the blackboard.
  • You may decide as a group how to divide up the work, but each group member must present something to class.
  • Be aware that you will be asked at a later time to describe your own specific contributions as well as those of each group member.
  • Presentations will be given at the beginning of class on Tuesday, 12/9 and Thursday, 12/11.  Your group must sign up for a presentation time before leaving class on 12/2.

 

Grading Criteria (20 points total)

_____ points (4 possible).  Basics.  Stay within time limits (5-8 minutes). All group members participate.

_____ points (3 possible).  Puzzle description.  Describe basic rules of puzzle (example optional).

_____ points (5 possible).  Conjecture.  Conjecture is written down.  Explanation and example are provided.

_____ points (5 possible).  Proof of conjecture or proof process description.

_____ points (3 possible).  Challenge the class.  At least one puzzle is given for the class to work on on their own.

 

____ points TOTAL (20 possible)