Conference Session

Using Computers, Software, and Writing to Improve Mathematical Understanding

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bipin K. Pai, Purdue University, Calumet

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

conducting exams online.METHODOLOGYThe course grading policy is explained to the students at the start of the semester and thebreakdown is as follows. The mid-term and final exams count for 35% and 40% of the totalgrade respectively. Both exams are given in a face-to-face class session. Of the remaining 25%,homework and online quizzes count for 20% and the online discussions count for 5% of the totalgrade. The syllabus explained all the requirements, including the policies and expectations foronline activities.The Numerical Methods course is divided into four modules. The first module introduces thestudents to Taylor series, finite difference calculus, interpolation and extrapolation. The secondmodule deals with roots of equations, solutions of

Conference Session

The Transition from Secondary to College Mathematics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Helen M. Doerr, Syracuse University; Andria Costello Staniec, Syracuse University; AnnMarie H. O'Neil, C.S. Driver Middle School

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

immediately obvious to them. We suspected that these factors might havecontributed to the gap in performance between these two groups of students.To address the letter grade performance, we divided the Calculus I course into two sections, withone section of the course exclusively for those students who have not had calculus in highschool. The other section was comprised of students who were re-taking calculus. Both sectionswere taught by a faculty member in a large lecture format, meeting three days per week with arecitation section taught by a teaching assistant. The syllabus for the two sections of the course,the homework assignments and the final examination were identical. The median grade for bothsections of the course was a B- in the first year

Conference Session

Using Computers, Software, and Writing to Improve Mathematical Understanding

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

N. Jean Hodges, Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

(synthesizing).  Writing their responses to math journal assignments that involve the higher cognitive skills of evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing.  Creating ideas and projects in response to math assignments.The complete list of course objectives was included in the syllabus given to all students on theirfirst day of class. The professor reviewed the objectives with the students in class along with theother university policies and procedures and the course information in the syllabus. Super Links. During the first week of the semester, the writing instructor cameinto the class to explain briefly and to administer two tests for determining students‟ preferredlearning styles and