Conference Session

Integrating Mathematics, Science, and Engineering

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

their first two years, students often fail to make connections between related concepts intheir calculus and introductory science courses. This disconnect early in their curriculum canhamper engineering majors in their ability to understand how these courses relate to theirdiscipline and can serve as a “turn-off” for students who fail to engage in these courses. Here wepresent how we have tried to address this problem by integrating basic calculus concepts into theintroductory freshman and sophomore biology, chemistry and physics science laboratory courses.In this paper, we will feature a biology laboratory experiment where students examine a growthcurve for algae, a chemistry lab involving an instantaneous rate calculation for a rocket launch

Conference Session

Mathematics in Transition

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sandra Linder, Math Out of the Box; Donna Gunderson, Math Out of the Box/Clemson University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

student achievement or motivation, itis to examine changes in instruction when teachers implement an inquiry-based program. To examine what traditional and inquiry practice look like in a classroom, it is necessaryto first define these terms. As stated previously, inquiry is most commonly associated with the Page 12.830.2theory of constructivism. Teaching through inquiry has its roots in education as early as thebeginning of the nineteenth century with John Dewey and his laboratory school8. Theorists likePiaget, Vygotsky, and Bruner examined cognitive development and advocated an activeeducational setting where students construct their own

Conference Session

Project and Model-Based Mathematics

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dennis Berkey, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Bogdan Vernescu, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

Financial Mathematics graduate program at WPI (www.wpi.edu/+math/Grad/profms.html)has been designed to lead students to the frontlines of the financial revolution of the new century.Coursework on mathematics and finance, computational laboratories, industrial internships, andproject work equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary for thequantitative positions in investment banks, securities houses, insurance companies, and moneymanagement firms. Mastery of mathematical models for risk and its relationship to returns,trading strategies, structured contracts, and derivative securities requires a strong mathematicalbackground. The program is built on collaborations between our faculty and the financialservices industry