Math 325

Spring 04

 

Project/Portfolio Update

 

            The written portion of the project will now be folded into the portfolio.  You won’t get a separate grade for the project (so we won’t use your rubric, if you submitted it).  You can include documentation about the class you lead in your portfolio too.

            You are strongly encouraged to schedule a meeting to review a draft of your portfolio.

            Since the project is now folded into the portfolio, you must select “Learn challenging new material in geometry” as one of the goals you document in your portfolio, and a write-up of what you learned in doing your project must be part of your evidence for meeting this goal.  This write-up should demonstrate that you understand your project material (i.e. don’t just tell me, “I learned how to prove the Pythagorean Theorem,” give a proof in your own words). 

            You can do one big write-up for your project or several small ones.  It’s fine to refer to the same item in more than one category.

 

            Your portfolio should include some kind of overview that explains why you selected the goals you selected and gives a general sense of what you accomplished in the class.  You should also include some kind of index or table of contents.  While there are no hard and fast rules on quantity for the items you include, here are some general guidelines (that you don’t necessarily have to follow):

 

·        For the “Learn challenging new material in geometry” goal, you should document your project and at least three other major topics you learned in the course.  At least one topic should be documented with work to show evidence of progress, and at least one should include some new writing or other documentation.

·        For each process goal (“Strengthen ability to construct sound mathematical arguments,” “Improve geometric intuition,” “Improve oral and written communication skills in mathematics,” “Improve problem solving skills”) you should include at least two examples of your best work and also find a way to document how you have improved.

·        For the goal, “Learn about important issues in the history of geometry,” you will probably need to write something new, explaining what you’ve learned.  Talk about at least two different issues, demonstrating that you understand both the mathematics and its historical context.

·        For the goal, “Approach geometry in multiple ways,” include documentation of your work from at least three different approaches to geometry and explanation of what you’ve gained from using multiple approaches.

·        For the goal “Become proficient at using dynamic geometry software,” include at least two examples of your best sketchpad work, with some discussion of how you’ve become proficient.

 

   Copyright 2005, Debra K. Borkovitz.  You may copy or edit this material for non-profit, educational use only.

 

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