MATH 155: Reality Math

Instructor Dot Sulock

Course Description- In this class, students will the have opportunity to investigate math in the real world. Reality Math will teach students real-world skills using real-world examples like oil, climate change, exercise and nutrition labels, credit cards, nuclear weapons, false positives, education lotteries, March Madness upsets, etc.

Required Textbooks- none. There is no book so there will be no textbook cost. The units will be handed out or downloaded from Moodle.

 

LS 179: Arguments, Thinkertoys & Nudges

Instructor Brian Butler

Course Description- In this course we will investigate various ways to think about proper thinking. First, we will investigate traditional ideas about careful argumentation. We will look at argument form, and learn to identify the most often found mistakes in argument. Second, we will look at thinking tools that are designed to help us creatively solve problems. Finally, we will look at the idea of "nudges" and various ways that people might use and misuse mental shortcuts in daily thought. The underlying aim of the course is to clarify some aspects of thought and to be clearer on what good thinking looks like.
 

Required Textbooks-

Anthony Westen. A Rulebook for Arguments, Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2009.

Michael Michalko. Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques, Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 2006.

Thaler, Richard H. and Sunstein, Cass R. Nudges: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness, New Haven, Yale University Press, 2008.

Helpful Links

UNC Asheville Bookstore

moodle

Ramsey Library

Computer Labs