On the Shoulders of Giants
by Dr. Donna Molinek
Two texts were
used, Knots and Surfaces, A Guide to Discovering Mathematics
by David Farmer and Theodore Standford and Groups and
Symmetry, A Guide to Discovering Mathematics by David Farmer.
In addition to the homework and tests - 4 writs(quizzes), a
midterm review, and a final review, the students in the course
also kept a mathematical journal in which they kept class notes,
wrote brief reports on some of the "giants" of
mathematics, kept scratch work and did some fun problems. We also
leanred several new uses for a few favorite foods!
The material included topics from graph theory
(networks), surfaces, and knot theory; all topics from the field
of topology. In addition, we studied symmetry and how all
symmetries of a finite figure form a mathematical structure known
as a group. We colored graphs, knots, and maps. We thought about
what it would be like to live on the surface of a torus as
opposed to a sphere. We learned how to describe graphs, use the
Euler characteristic to differentiate between surfaces, and how
to draw knot diagrams.
Students(click
on a name below to see opinions of the class)
If your name was
incorrectly placed on the list, or should be place on the list,
please email Will Doerner
Amanda Andrews
Will Doerner
Jennie Frackenpohl
Emily Goins
Ted Honkisz
Alex Issaev
Hannah Johnson
Davy Lisk
Brian Maples
Amy Liz Pittenger
Mary Ellen Reed
Paul Stanis
Priya Sheth
Kiichi Tsunooka