This sourcebook and entire project are dedicated to those public school mathematics teachers who take that extra minute to answer a question and to encourage any student who mistakenly thinks "I cannot do math."
 

                                                                         FORWARD

In the summer of 1998, two investigators from Volunteer State Community College began a three part project sponsored by a grant from Education Edge. The phases of this endeavor were as follows:
 
 

1. Visitation with business and industries in the four county

Areas of Macon, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale.

The purpose of these visitations was to gather information about the types of mathematics skills used to manufacture the products and provide the services offered by these organizations. The investigators conducted video interviews with human resource directors as well as other personnel at each location. The investigators also shot additional video of certain business and industrial activities at each site. The investigators will make the video and this document available to teachers and other interested parties.
 
 

2. The improvement of the existing technical mathematics course now offered at Volunteer
    State Community College.

Currently, Volunteer State Community College offers a technical mathematics course as a requirement for degrees in a wide range of programs. As a result of the above mentioned visitations, the mathematics department now offers a more improved course entitled "Mathematics for Industrial Technology." This sourcebook contains a detailed outline of this course including the syllabus.
 
 

3. The dissemination of information to teachers in Macon, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale
    counties concerning the mathematics usage and skills found in business, manufacturing,
    and health care settings.

In the fall of 1998, the investigators conducted discussions with teachers throughout the four county areas of Macon, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale. The purpose of these meetings was to provide the teachers and their students with a written, visual, and anecdotal record of the findings of the investigators. This document is part of that record. The investigators hope that this project will leave machinery in place to improve the communication among secondary teachers, post-secondary teachers, and those in the work sector. The investigators do not wish information to flow in only one direction. To that end, Volunteer State Community College has established a website where everyone interested in excellent mathematics training at all levels can express themselves on the subject. The address is www.vscc.cc.tn.us/msee/eduedge.htm.

In this sourcebook the investigators have begun a section of application problems suggested by the first hand interaction with those on the front lines of business and industry. We have deliberately not included an answer key. Teachers, students, and anyone in the world of work are all encouraged to send in to the web address above any solutions, comments, classroom and work experiences relating to mathematics, and above all, new problems. This document is only a beginning. The investigators wish that it never has an end as long as there are people who are interested in education of future workers.
 

                                                                ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 

The authors wish to acknowledge the following individuals and businesses who allowed us to come into their workplace, get in their way, and ask them a lot of "dumb" questions. The investigators apologize in advance for any omissions from the following list as well as any errors that are contained herein. The content of this sourcebook is solely the responsibility of the authors. We welcome your comments and discussion.
 
 

Beverly Baum, Human Resource Director, Insteel Wire Products

Eddie Steen, Insteel Wire Products

David Richardson, Insteel Wire Products

Jerry Ford, Insteel Wire Products

Jamie Puckett, Insteel Wire Products

Rick Suiter, Insteel Wire Products

Bill Carter, Insteel Wire Products

Al Frillman, Mueller Refrigeration Products

Steve Crouch, Mueller Refrigeration Products

Una Sircy, Mueller Refrigeration Products

Mike Kingery, Mueller Refrigeration Products

Charlie McClellan, Mueller Refrigeration Products

Mindi Lancaster, R.R. Donnelly and Sons Company

Ray Ball, R.R. Donnelly and Sons Company

Bob Evans, R.R. Donnelly and Sons Company

Bill Weaver, R.R. Donnelly and Sons Company

John Crampton Jr., R.R. Donnelly and Sons Company

David Kist, California Industrial Products

Greg Barrass, Rogers Group

Matthew Baltz, Rogers Group

Dale Cathey, Rogers Group

Willy Spears, Frank T. Rutherford Memorial Hospital Inc.

Tiffany Lancaster, Frank T. Rutherford Memorial Hospital Inc.

Amanda Holliman, Frank T. Rutherford Memorial Hospital Inc.

Cindy Goolsby, Frank T. Rutherford Memorial Hospital Inc.

Christy Hall, Frank T. Rutherford Memorial Hospital Inc.

Darren Christian, American Greeting Corp.

Edwin V. Kershaw, Meritor Light Vehicle Systems, Inc.
 
 

The authors would like to further acknowledge, with special thanks, the following people at Volunteer State Community College:
 
 

Charles L. Lea, Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs
 
 

James G. Hiett Jr., Assistant Vice President, Dean and Associate

Professor of Psychology
 
 

P. Thomas Miller, Dean of Mathematics and Science, Professor of

Chemistry
 
 

J. Richard Harville, Chairman, Departments of Mathematics and

Engineering, Professor of Mathematics
 
 
 
 
 

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