Symmetry:  The Art of Mathematics		Hillyard/Rasmussen

Class 1 Outline

I) Introduction

	A) Instructor background and experience 
		 
	B) Student introductions and examples 

	C) Course Overview
		1) Goals/Philosophy 
			a) A better understanding of the interplay between  	art and mathematics
			b) How this interplay was and is used by diverse cultures around the world
			c) Understanding the mathematical concept of symmetry in two ways:
				 i) the actual construction of symmetries by compass and straightedge
				ii) the mathematical abstraction of this constructed symmetry and the ability to mathematical use these symmetries
			d) The ability by students to generate their own designs.
			e) Work as a team on their final visual presentation
			
		2) Topics to be covered
		3) Assignments and Grading
		4) Textbooks/compass/color pencils
		5) Office, phone, and Office hours
		6) Syllabus/ prerequisites
		7) Class decorum



II) Introduction:  High School Geometry

	A)Group exercise: Discuss your H.S. Geometry experience
		1) Facts you remember, perhaps words.
		2) What you did.
		3) What you liked.
		4) groups report


III) Break

	During the break please write a brief paragraph discussing the 	following:  
		What do you want to learn/accomplish in this course?
		How do you plan to use what you learn?

IV) Introductions to symmetry

	A) Exploring symmetry using our course website:

	http://faculty.washington.edu/~jrras/bis329.htm

		1) Student’s go to Adrian Bruce’s website
			a) explore his sight
			b) students’ report on what they found interesting
 
		2) Group project
			a) form a group and investigate together another site using the links on our website
			b) groups report what they found most interesting about their site

		3) Individual project
			a) find a new website on symmetry that you find interesting
			b) individuals report on the new site they found and	share with class


V) Homework
	
	A) Hand out assignment 1 due Wednesday March 29, 2006.

	B) Don’t forget to buy a compass for Wednesday’s class!