Conference Session

Techniques in Improving Mathematics Education in STEM Curricula

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jennifer Vandenbussche, Southern Polytechnic State University; Christina R. Scherrer, Southern Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

AC 2012-3053: AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING EX-CLUSIVELY WORKSHOP-STYLE INSTRUCTION IN THE COLLEGEALGEBRA CLASSROOM, FOCUSED ON ENGINEERING AND ENGI-NEERING TECHNOLOGY UNDERGRADUATESDr. Jennifer Vandenbussche, Southern Polytechnic State University Jennifer Vandenbussche is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Southern Polytechnic State Univer- sity. In addition to her research in the scholarship of teaching and learning, she does mathematics research in in the area of combinatorics, especially extremal graph theory. Her primary interest lies in coloring and matching problems in graphs. She received her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Dr. Christina R. Scherrer

Conference Session

Using Computers, Software, and Writing to Improve Mathematical Understanding

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Schmeelk, Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

AC 2012-2998: EDGE DETECTORS IN ENGINEERING AND MEDICALAPPLICATIONSDr. John Schmeelk, Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar Page 25.489.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012 Edge Detectors in Engineering and Medical ApplicationsAbstract Image edge detection is an integral component of image processing to enhance theclarity of edges and the type of edges. The current paper compares two methods forfinding the edges of an image. One method developed by the author is to define specialmatrices and applying them to the image using approximations for gradients

Conference Session

Using Computers, Software, and Writing to Improve Mathematical Understanding

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jorge A. Samayoa, Galileo University and Purdue University; Carlos Humberto Zelada, Galileo University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

JavaScriptdisplay engine for LATEX and MathML that works in all modern browsers. It was designed with Page 25.1430.4the goal of consolidating the recent advances in web technologies into a single, definitive,math-on-the-web platform supporting the major browsers and operating systems. It requires no Figure 1: Example of a Google search for "Funciones Polinomiales" (Polynomial Functions).setup on the part of the user, so the page author can write web documents that includemathematics and be confident that users will be able to view it naturally and easily.Some of the benefits of MathJax are that it uses web-based fonts (in those browsers that supportthem

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

towards and beliefs about mathematics have been theorized to havesignificant impact on learning mathematics2-4. Various scholars have emphasized thatdispositions and beliefs must be studied in order to fully understand the development ofmathematical problem-solving ability5,6. Studies have shown that many K-12 and collegestudents come to believe that mathematics is a rule-driven, linear, solitary, school-only activity,in which problems have one correct solution that should be quickly evident and where trueunderstanding requires special talent 4,7. This counterproductive view can intimidate anddiscourage students and filter them out of science, technology, engineering, and mathematical(STEM) fields2,8,9. Acknowledging this problem, mathematics

Conference Session

Using Applications and Projects in Teaching Mathematics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David I. Spang, Burlington County College; Kathleen Spang, Middlesex Boro High School

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

AC 2012-5124: REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS OF MATHEMATICALAND SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES IN THE CURRICULUM FOR COLLEGEAND CAREER SUCCESSDr. David I. Spang, Burlington County College David Spang is the Vice President of Academic Programs at Burlington County College in Pemberton, N.J. Prior to being named Vice President, Spang served as Dean of the Science, Mathematics, and Tech- nology Division. Spang holds a Ph.D. degree in materials science and engineering and a M.B.A. degree, with a concentration in innovation and technology management. Prior to joining academia, Spang spent nearly 20 years in R&D and business development.Dr. Kathleen Spang, Middlesex Boro High School Kathleen Spang has been a high school educator for

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

. (2008). Handbook of design research methods in education: Innovations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning and teaching. NY: Routledge. Page 25.410.10

Conference Session

The Transition from Secondary to College Mathematics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sabina Jeschke, RWTH Aachen University; Olivier Frédéric Pfeiffer, Technische Universität Berlin; Omar Musa Hasan, American University of Mdaba; Erhard Zorn, Technische Universität Berlin

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

an Assistant Professor from 1997 to 2005 and an Associate Professor from 2005 to 2010. During that time, he served as the Chairman for the Communications Engineering Department from 2005 to 2009 and the Dean of Student Affairs in 2010. He has worked in the areas of turbo coding and optical wireless channels. He worked as a consultant for Global Cardiac Monitors, Houston, Texas, 2000 to 2002. During the years 1991-1992, he worked in different projects at the Radio Frequency and Digital Design Division at the Physical Science Laboratory, Las Cruces, N.M., USA.Mr. Erhard Zorn, Technische Universitt Berlin Erhard Zorn studied physics and mathematics at the Berlin Institute of Technology. After receiving his diploma in

Conference Session

Techniques in Improving Mathematics Education in STEM Curricula

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yonghui Wang, Prairie View A&M University; Jian-ao Lian, Prairie View A&M University; Yonggao Yang, Prairie View A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

(VAIL), the GeoResources Institute (GRI), Mississippi State University. He is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Engineering Technology, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas. His research interests include image and signal processing, data coding, and scientific visualiza- tion.Prof. Jian-ao Lian, Prairie View A&M University Jian-ao Lian received both his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mathematics from Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, China, in 1984 and 1987, respectively, and received his Ph.D. degree in mathematics from Texas A&M University, College Station, in 1993. He is currently a professor of mathematics at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, one of the

Conference Session

The Transition from Secondary to College Mathematics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bert Pariser, Technical Career Institutes

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

AC 2012-4138: TEACHING PYTHAGORAS’S THEOREM USING SOFT-WAREDr. Bert Pariser, Technical Career Institutes Bert Pariser is a faculty member in the Electronic Engineering Technology and Computer Science Tech- nology departments at Technical Career Institutes. His primary responsibility is developing curriculum and teaching methodology for physics, thermodynamics, electromagnetic field theory, computers, and databases. Pariser has prepared grant proposals to the National Science Foundation, which produced the funding for a Fiber Optics Laboratory. He served as Faculty Advisor to the IEEE and Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society. Pariser was instrumental in merging Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society into the ASEE. In

Conference Session

Techniques in Improving Mathematics Education in STEM Curricula

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John R. Reisel, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Marissa Jablonski, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Ethan V. Munson, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Hossein Hosseini, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

(on a 4-point scale) higher than the average course gradesof all students in the courses.In this paper, the format of the study groups will be described in detail, and the analysis of theimpact of the study groups on the student grades will be presented.IntroductionThere is great interest in the United States to increase the number of students graduating fromcollege in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.1,2 Toaccomplish this goal, two primary tasks need to be performed. First, more students need to beattracted to pursue college-level studies in the STEM fields. Second, once those students areenrolled in a STEM field, the colleges and universities must provide a nurturing environmentdesigned to allow a

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

AC 2012-4861: USING ONLINE QUIZZES AND DISCUSSION FORUMSTO ENHANCE LEARNING NUMERICAL METHODSDr. Bipin K. Pai, Purdue University, Calumet Bipin K. Pai has a B.S., aeronautical engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India, 1972; a M.S., mechanical engineering, University of Rochester, 1973; and a Ph.D., mechanical engineering, University of Rochester, 1978. He was Purdue University, Calumet, Director of Honors Program, 2005- present; Purdue University, Calumet, professor of mechanical engineering, 1991-present, full-time; Pur- due University, Calumet, Associate Professor of mechanical engineering, 1984-1991, full-time; and Pur- due University, Calumet, Assistant Professor of mechanical engineering, 1979

Conference Session

Techniques in Improving Mathematics Education in STEM Curricula

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Erin Shaw, University of Southern California; Zachary Boehm, University of Southern California; Hussain Badruddin Penwala, University of Southern California; Jihie Kim, University of Southern California

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

AC 2012-4334: GAMEMATH! EMBEDDING SECONDARY MATHEMAT-ICS INTO A GAME-MAKING CURRICULUMErin Shaw, University of Southern California Erin Shaw is a Computer Scientist at the Information Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering. Her research focuses on modeling and assessing student knowledge in the areas of science and mathematics and experimenting with new technologies for aiding assessment in distance learning. As a Co-Principal Investigator on National Science Foundation sponsored studies, she researches new ways to assess student collaboration in undergraduate engineering courses and new ways to motivate secondary mathematics learning in the context of computer

Conference Session

Using Applications and Projects in Teaching Mathematics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gunter Bischof, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria; Christian Steinmann, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

University of Applied Sciences in Graz, Austria and has for 14 years. Page 25.642.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012 Fluid Dynamics Simulation using Cellular AutomataThe idea to apply project-based learning as a didactical method in the freshman year wasprimarily driven by the need to motivate the students to apply theoretical knowledge inpractice as early as possible. Faculty teaching in the areas of mathematics, science andinformation technology noted that students were not always enthusiastic in approaching thetheoretical concepts involved in these disciplines, and that

Conference Session

The Transition from Secondary to College Mathematics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Alex Feldman, Boise State University; Doug Bullock, Boise State University; Janet Callahan, Boise State University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

example, COMPASS exams are designed to be taken without preparation, butoften students do prepare for them, or take them several times, skewing the results. Also, thetiming of a placement exam can result in improperly placed students. At Boise State it is notuncommon that newly enrolled freshmen took their ACT or SAT one time only, in their junioryear of high school, because their scores at that time were sufficient for admission to theuniversity. Most students in STEM majors (science, engineering, technology and mathematics)go on to take a subsequent math course, resulting in more knowledge than revealed by their ACTor SAT scores. Other students, not destined for STEM majors, may choose to not enroll inmathematics in their senior year of high

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

presentations at annual ASEE con- ferences, they have published and co-presented at meetings of the Middle East Teachers of Science, Mathematics, and Computing (METSMaC) in Abu Dhabi and at the Second International Congress of Educational Research in Antalya, Turkey. Page 25.815.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012 INTEGRATING WRITING WITH CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLSAbstractGlobalization, compounded by the rapid societal evolution being propelled by