Conference Session

Using Applications and Projects in Teaching Mathematics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Julie Gainsburg, California State University, Northridge

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

, which I termedskeptical reverence: a balance between seeing mathematics as an indispensible tool andunderstanding its limitations. I argued that this disposition was functional and necessary forengineers to carry out design and analysis effectively; the wrong level of reliance onmathematics—too much reverence or too much skepticism—would incur safety and economicrisks. Unanswered by this prior research was how these engineers developed their perspective onthe relationship between mathematics and engineering and this disposition of skepticalreverence. This question is taken up by the study reported here.This study was part of a larger project to investigate how engineers develop as problem solverswho apply mathematics effectively. I conjecture