Estimated Time Requirements: It is likely that
teachers will require 15-25 hours to study the lessons and complete the
lesson assignments for this module. Those teachers enrolled for
Graduate Credit will also be required to complete a Final Project that
integrates the module content into a unit for one of their classes.
The time required to complete the Final Project will vary, but should
fall generally in the 15-20 hour range.
Getting Started: After you have completed and submitted
your on-line registration form, you will be directed to download the
appropriate module files folder for your operating system (PC or
Macintosh) for this module. That folder will contain Assignment Shells
(which are Microsoft Word documents)
that you will use to complete and submit the lesson assignments for this
module, and a Final Project shell that you will use to organize and submit
your Final Project if you are enrolled for Graduate Credit. You should
open these documents and scan their contents briefly. If you are not
very familiar with the calculator (TI-82 or TI-83) that you will be using
to do this module, review the Basic
TI-82 Tutorial. Working with the TI-83 is very similar.
To do the module assignments, you will need to know how to capture screen
shots on your TI-82 or TI-83 calculator and transfer them to your computer
so that you can paste them into the Assignment shells, which are MS Word
documents in your download folder for this module. This is quite easy to
do with the TI-Graph Link package that is required for this module. The
TI-Graph Link
Tutorial available at the bottom of the MTL Course Module
Program Homepage will show you how to install TI-Graph Link on your
Mac
or Windows machine and also show you how to do these screen captures and
insert them in other documents on your computer. If you are not already
using TI-Graph Link for this purpose, you should review this tutorial now.
Now proceed
to Step 1 below.
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STEP #1
Even if you are familiar with the TI-82 or TI-83 calculator, you
should begin by reviewing the Sequences with the TI-82 Tutorial or the Sequences with the TI-83 Tutorial, depending on the
calculator that you will use to complete the module. Then proceed to Step
2.
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STEP #2
Study the three examples in the Introduction and then review the contents of Lesson 1: Basic Concepts and Examples. At the end
of the lesson, you will find a list of problems with the title Just Do
It!. Review the problems. If you are ready to solve them, proceed to
Step 3. If not, review the lesson as needed until you are ready to go to
Step 3.
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STEP #3
The Just Do It! problems in Lesson 1 are your first assignment to
be turned in electronically on MTL. You will find the Assignment 1 shell
file (called Assgn_1) in the download folder for this module. That shell
will list the Just do it! problems for Lesson 1 . Open that shell
and complete the assignment according to the instructions in that shell.
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Submit Assignment 1 using the Homework button in the MTL Module Working
Environment by following the instructions given there.
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STEP #4
Study Lesson 2: Linear Discrete Dynamical Systems.
At the end of the lesson, you will find another list of Just Do It!
problems. Review the problems and when you feel that you are ready to
solve them, open the Assignment 2 shell (in your module download folder
with the file name Assgn_2) and do the assignment according to the
directions in that shell.
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Submit Assignment 2 using the Homework button in the MTL Module Working
Environment by following the instructions given there.
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STEP #5
Study Lesson 3: Constructing Solutions To Linear Discrete Dynamical
Systems. Review the Just Do It! problems at the end of that
lesson and when you feel that you are ready to solve them, open the
Assignment 3 shell (a file named Assgn_3 in your module download folder)
and do the assignment according to the directions in that shell.
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Submit Assignment 3 using the Homework button in the MTL Module Working
Environment by following the instructions given there.
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STEP #6
Study Lesson 4: Linear Discrete Dynamical Systems Of Order Two
. When you feel that you are ready to solve the Just Do It!
problems at the end of Lesson 4, open the Assignment 4 shell (named
Assgn_4 in your module download folder) and do the assignment according to
the directions in that shell.
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Submit Assignment 4 using the Homework button in the MTL Module Working
Environment by following the instructions given there.
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If you are enrolled for Continuing Education Credit, you have now
completed the module requirements. Congratulations! You should receive
official notification of completion of the module from the Division of
Extramural Programs within three weeks after we complete our review of
your 4 module assignments.
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If you are enrolled for Graduate Credit, you now have the opportunity to
apply what you have learned to your own teaching by completing the
required Final Project.
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The specific ingredients for a Final Project are listed in the Final
Project Shell in your module download folder. However, there is a great
deal of latitude in the choice of topic for your Final Project. We want
it to be a classroom unit that interests you and that will be useful for
your teaching, and, of course, it should make significant use of what you
have learned about discrete dynamical systems or the sequence capabilities
of your calculator.
You might have already thought of good classroom unit for your Final
Project as you were learning the lesson material for the module.
If you would like to discuss your plans, or perhaps ask for some
suggestions, we encourage you to call us using the MTL 800 - number. In
any case:
You need to send us a brief description of your Final Project plans in
an e-mail message to one of the instructors at:
discrete@mtl.math.uiuc.edu before you begin.
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