Sample Project from Math 102-Creating an Infographic Background and project description: In class, we compared the different tax plans for several of the 2016 presidential candidates. While it is interesting to compare federal income tax amounts for the different candidates, there are several other important issues that are currently being debated, as well as issues that are commonly debated and discussed during election years. For your project, you will create an infographic about one of the issues below. This infographic is NOT meant to be an infographic for a particular candidate or political party; you do not need to mention any presidential candidates at all. What you're trying to address is "What is [ the topic ] about and why should we care about [ the topic ]." To do this, you will need to do some research and find some real data that support the topic of your infographic. You will need to provide the sources of your data. Note that Google and Wikipedia are excellent starting places, but neither is considered a valid source! Your infographic can be made on Piktochart, with a different computer or Internet program, or by hand. Possible topics for your infographic: •Granting Citizenship to undocumented immigrants (an infographic on this topic may be either in support or opposed to providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the United States. Or it may be a "balanced" infographic that shows both sides of the story). •Immigration (an infographic on this topic should either be in favor of increasing the number of refugees allowed into the U.S., or decreasing/stopping the amount of refugees allowed into the U.S.). •Foreign Military Policy (an infographic on this topic should be either in favor or against the United States committing ground troops to combat Daesh, or in favor or opposed to carpet bombing areas associated with Daesh, or in favor or against the U.S. having a permanent military presence in the Middle East.). •Climate Change (an infographic on this topic should show how climate change is real and why it's important to consider in this election). •Gun Control (an infographic on this topic may either be in favor of stricter gun regulations, or in favor of no additional gun regulations). •Mass Incarceration (an infographic on this topic may include data on groups that are imprisoned at higher rates than other groups, such as the mentally disabled and specific minority groups. It should include information about what political policies began some of these issues).

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

In this paper, I share a hybrid quantitative reasoning/algebra two-course sequence that challenges the common assumption that quantitative literacy and reasoning are less rigorous mathematics alternatives to algebra and illustrates that a quantitative reasoning framework can be used to teach traditional algebra. The presentation is made in two parts. In the first part, which is somewhat philosophical and theoretical, I explain my personal perspective of what I mean by "algebra" and "doing algebra. " I contend that algebra is a form of communication whose value is precision, which allows us to perform algebraic manipulations in the form of simplification and solving moves. A quantitative reasoning approach to traditional algebraic manipulations rests on intentional and purposeful use of simplification and solving moves within contextual situations. In part 2, I describe a 6-week instructional module intended for undergraduate business students that was delivered to students who had placed into beginning algebra. The perspective described in part 1 heavily informed the design of this module. The course materials, which involve the use of Excel in multiple authentic contexts, are built around the use of inquiry-based learning. Upon completion of this module, the percentage of students who successfully complete model problems in an assessment is in the same range as surveyed students in precalculus and calculus, approximately two "grade levels" ahead of their placement.