An Example of a "Learning Process" Journal (using the 2 colored box format)

Book: The Nature of Mathematics 10th ed by Karl Smith.

Source: Toronto Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2004.

This is my first day where I am spending a clear hour making 'notes' on Learning more about mathematics. It is 7:05 am (Saturday). Early morning, once I am alert, is prime time for LEARNING.

As is usual for me, the first task is to have a close look at the Table of Contents, and from that to draw a chart of the main topics or themes. I must try to have a coffee with Shelley and Nola and have them bring me up to date on their course. Is it still being offered?

Here is the Inspiration chart for the 17 chapters:

http://people.uleth.ca/~dale.burnett/Mathematics/mathematics.htm

I like the fact that the Table of Contents has no structure: it is simply a sequence of 17 chapters. However I have tried to impose a weak system on to the diagram, using color to distinguish basic pre-requisite topics, fundamental math topics and application topics.

I am particularly looking forward to Chapter 4 The Nature of Numbers, but I am willing to wait a bit and see if the three chapters before that are interesting.

Ooops - there is a Prologue chapter of 20 pages which provides an historical overview plus a set of questions at the end of the chapter. Now to read.

As soon as I begin, I find a link to a web site for this book.

http://www.mathnature.com/math10th/index.html

The History link on this page is excellent, as are all of the topical links that follow the links to the different chapters.

I skimmed the rest of the chapter without really reading it. Then I looked at the problems at the end of the chapter.

I was surprised that the answers were given immediately following each question. This makes it difficult to approach the question, since it is difficult to stop your eyes from glancing beyond the last word.

The key decision for me now is whether I should spend some time with these problems, or to begin the first chapter. This is both a time management question as well as a "Learning" question. I think I will spend a full hour on the problems, just to see if I think it is time well spent. As a figure in the text says, "Mathematics is not a spectator sport".

8:15 am I will block 1 more hour for this activity for later in the day.

Mathematics Index