Math [MA]
Math is usually considered a textbook course. It lends itself to systematic, lock-step learning. However, there are occasions when using the math becomes as important as learning it.
This section offers a few self-designed math courses. They are examples for your consideration, and we hope they stimulate ideas and become starting points for you.
This section contains 8 examples of self-designed courses:Consumer Math of Major Purchases
The Consumer Math of Major Purchases: Classification: MA
This course is intended to provide students with experience in the kinds of mathematical skills they will encounter when making major purchases as adults. A goal should be to make this subject relevant to students and provide opportunities to apply the concepts in practical applications BEFORE they are forced to apply them on their own. This course has a companion course entitled, “Consumer Math, Everyday Applications in,” which can also be valuable. Either one can be done first.
Consumer Math of Medical Costs
The Consumer Math of Medical Costs: Classification: MA
This course is intended to provide students with experience in the kinds of mathematical skills they will encounter when making decisions as adults. When it comes to medical costs, some are voluntary, and many are not. A goal should be to make this subject relevant to students and provide opportunities to apply the concepts in practical applications BEFORE they are forced to apply them on their own. During this course, it will be helpful to reveal the family medical costs over the past few years. This course has a companion course in this volume entitled, “Consumer Math, Everyday Applications,” which we suggest you do BEFORE doing this one.
Consumer Math, Everyday Applications in
Everyday Applications in Consumer Math: Classification: MA
This course is intended to provide students with experience in the kinds of mathematical skills they will encounter every week of their lives. A goal should be to make this subject relevant to students and provide opportunities to apply the concepts in practical applications. This course has a companion course entitled, “Consumer Math, Major Purchases,” which can also be valuable. Either one can be done first.
eBay! Making Money on eBay
Making Money On eBay: Classifications: BU, MA, or SS
An object sells on eBay every 1.7 seconds. Millions of people make money on eBay, the country's #1 online auction site, and thousands make a living from selling on eBay. How do they do it?
eBay is at the forefront of e-commerce making money on the Internet. This course is intended to introduce students to the eBay experience: registering, selling, buying, and learning techniques that would familiarize them with the millions of people who are making money selling on eBay.
Entrepreneurial Studies
Entrepreneurial Studies: Classifications: SS, BU, or MA
Do you think you might like to work for yourself in the future? This course should offer a fundamental overview of the skills and knowledge needed to start a new business and help it prosper. It should help students evaluate their desire for a career as an entrepreneur and provide knowledge in selecting, starting, and funding a new business enterprise. Practical application could also be provided by having the student begin and maintain a small business.
Investigating Insurance
Consumer Math, Investigating Insurance: Classification: MA, SS, or PA
This course is intended to provide students with experience in the kinds of mathematical skills they will encounter when they approach significant decisions during their adult lives. One goal should be to make this subject relevant to students and provide opportunities to apply the concepts in practical applications -- therefore, parents may be asked to disclose their own feelings and decisions about their own insurance coverage. This course has a companion course entitled, “Consumer Math” found in this publication, which can also be valuable.
Occupational Math a/k/a Math for the Trades
Occupational Math, Technical Math, Math for the Trades: Classification: MA
Occupational math is a general education course that prepares students mathematically for the workforce. It should develop and refine job-related math skills. The following should be incorporated into this course: arithmetic operations, problem-solving techniques, estimating, calculator usage, measurement (both standard and metric), data handling, two and three dimensional geometric shapes, and ratio and proportion. A special emphasis should be on understanding and applying mathematical functions as they apply to solving work-related problems.
Personal Finances
Personal Finances: Classification: MA
This course should introduce students to the practical financial management of personal money matters. Items to include should be budgeting, borrowing, saving, insurance, investing and retirement, estate planning, taxation, banking and home ownership. Willingness for a parent to reveal elements of the family budget may become necessary to allow the student to fully benefit from thiis course.