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Leah Yates Duke University Master of Arts in Teaching |
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Analysis of Number Theory
I am currently taking a number theory class to complete my course requirements at Duke. This is an incredible course. Each week, I am excited to go to class. The instructor teaches the course with a “learn through discovery” style. He rarely ever gives a direct answer to any question. He expects the students to discover the math for themselves. Each week, he distributes a homework sheet that each student is expected to work on. Students are encouraged to work together but to also produce independent work. Once everyone has completed the homework assignment, we come together as a group and discuss it. Many of the problems only require conjectures. Points are awarded on the homework for creativity of conjectures instead of correctness.
The discussion aspect of this course is its strongest attribute. Students never come to class expecting to “learn” or sit quietly at their desk while the professor lectures. Most every student participates. The math in this course is also very interesting. It is the type of math that anyone could do even if they had a weak mathematical background. All of this math could also easily be taught to high school students even though the vast majority of it is not part of the standard high school curriculum.
In addition to weekly classes and homework assignments, each student is working on a project. Each student meets with the professor every week for 30 minutes to discuss and work on their projects. At the end of the semester, every student will give a 60 minute presentation to his or her peers and turn in a 10 page paper on their results. This is also a very dynamic aspect of the course. I really like that I get to study in depth an area of number theory that I would have otherwise never known about.