Jenny in Florida Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I've been talking with my son quite a lot about the changes we're making to our homeschooling approach next year. As a result, we're tweaking what I had planned for math. Here's what I think he's going to do: - Art of Problem Solving: Intro to Counting and Probability - Quick introductory workbook about statistics - Unit about cryptology - Short unit based on the novel Flatland So, math people, what would you call this on the transcript I will inevitably eventually have to create? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Introductory work in counting, probability and statistics often comes under the label of "Finite Math" or "Discrete Math". Flatland does not quite fit in this category but it is a fine read. Much of the mathematics that students learn in high school takes places using real numbers whereas Discrete Mathematics focuses on things to which integers are assigned. Another topic that would fit in well with this is Graph Theory. The Seven Bridges of Konigsberg is a classic problem in this subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 Thanks! I'm considering something like: Topics in Discrete Mathematics: Counting and Probability (first semester) Topics in Discrete Mathematics: Statistics and Cryptology (second semester) Would that work, you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Thanks! I'm considering something like: Topics in Discrete Mathematics: Counting and Probability (first semester) Topics in Discrete Mathematics: Statistics and Cryptology (second semester) Would that work, you think? Looks good to me although I am trying to remember the difference between cryptology and cryptography. Off to Google... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Would you mind sharing the name of the statistics workbook? I've been looking for something like that. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 You might think about calling the Florida Board of Education and ask them if the subject "Topics in Discrete Mathematics" is an acceptable math course to meet the math requirements for a high school diploma in Florida. There are no requirements for homeschoolers in Florida. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 And while this requirement does not apply to homeschool students, they do compete with other PS students in the state. Not allowing a comparison of like subjects would place most homeschool students at a disadvantage when comparing their high school transcripts with the PS students from Florida. Perhaps these unique courses will allow her son to move to the head of the pack as a unique student with a unique background that would bring a valuable perspective to their university. Standing apart from the crowd is one of the privileges we have as homeschoolers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Yes, that is true in Florida, but why interject a new mathematics title that perhaps the registrar at some university will question. Florida allows math credits in the PS system towards a high school diploma only for algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, pre-calculus, trigonometry, probability and statistics, and calculus. Registrars know that Florida requires 4 full hours of math from among these math subjects to graduate. And while this requirement does not apply to homeschool students, they do compete with other PS students in the state. Not allowing a comparison of like subjects would place most homeschool students at a disadvantage when comparing their high school transcripts with the PS students from Florida. Why not just transcript a full years credit for "probability and statistics" which will be more readily accepted - and which aptly describes the work done by the student? Just a thought to save some trouble down the road. Why not? Because it wouldn't be accurate. Or interesting. This kid will likely take a non-traditional path to college and is planning on a liberal arts degree. He's unlikely to want to go to the kind of school that would give him trouble about such a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Perhaps these unique courses will allow her son to move to the head of the pack as a unique student with a unique background that would bring a valuable perspective to their university. Standing apart from the crowd is one of the privileges we have as homeschoolers! Yep. This, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I would just go ahead and call it Discrete Mathematics for the full year. This is likely to be more recognizable and is still accurate. Most discrete mathematics textbooks cover more than can reasonably be accomplished in a year anyway so the professor has to pick and choose. When I took it, we only did half the chapters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 (edited) If you're interested, The Teaching Company has an excellent Discrete Mathematics course which might help pull all the topics together; it's 24 half-hour lectures and it even includes a lecture on cryptography. My DH really enjoyed the course, and it has 5 out of 5 stars from all 22 reviewers. It's currently on sale ($70), and the coupon code FRTH is good for free shipping. Jackie Edited June 24, 2011 by Corraleno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 If you're interested, The Teaching Company has an excellent Discrete Mathematics course which might help pull all the topics together; it's 24 half-hour lectures and it even includes a lecture on cryptography. My DH really enjoyed the course, and it has 5 out of 5 stars from all 22 reviewers. It's currently on sale ($70), and the coupon code FRTH is good for free shipping. Jackie Thanks! We'll take a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Thank you for all of the input. I'll have to ponder this a while, but it's nice to have some ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 My apologies, please forgive me, I do not want to appear the all knowing soul, but very often undergraduate discrete math classes in the US have a calculus prerequisite. Here is the definition of Discrete Math from my undergrad days: "A general introduction to basic mathematical terminology and the techniques of abstract mathematics in the context of discrete mathematics. Topics introduced are mathematical reasoning, Boolean connectives, deduction, mathematical induction, sets, functions and relations, algorithms, graphs, combinatorial reasoning." I am only concerned that you might be naming a course with a title that does not contain the requisite elements for its title. A college course in discrete math will have some variation from a high school one. High school courses in discrete math that do not have a Calculus prereq are not uncommon. Google will reveal this. Here is a bit from Tufts University on introducing discrete math topics in middle school. When I was an undergraduate math major, my abstract algebra book had the title of "Introduction to Algebra" or something similar. My non-math friends were shocked--you haven't mastered Algebra yet? I then tried to explain group theory to them. Algebra has many different levels of difficulty. We do not expect high school students to understand Ring Theory, yet we given credit for something called Algebra in high school. Similarly one can take elements of Discrete Mathematics which are applicable to a high school level. I don't think Colleges Admissions people will be that surprised by the course title. Not all students are on the Calculus track but many are taking four years of high school math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Similarly one can take elements of Discrete Mathematics which are applicable to a high school level. I don't think Colleges Admissions people will be that surprised by the course title. Not all students are on the Calculus track but many are taking four years of high school math. Thank you. I keep seeing Discrete Math suggested as an alternative to Calculus as a fourth year of math. But not wanting to "over-sell" is one of the reasons I'm leaning toward going with the "topics in . . ." label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 (edited) . Edited June 28, 2011 by TechWife No longer relevant since some posts aren't here any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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