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

development model where they wereimmersed in tasks in which the facilitator supported an inquiry-based learning environment. The professional development model consisted of two full days of inquiry experience anda half-day at the end of implementation dedicated to reflection of practice. The first day ofprofessional development focused mainly on Algebra concepts and was given prior toimplementing any of the Math Out of the Box lessons. After teachers implemented the tenlessons relating to Algebra, they returned for the second day of professional development dealingprimarily with data concepts. Teachers were also given the opportunity to reflect on the Algebralessons and discuss issues relating to implementation with their peers. Topics such as

Conference Session

Project and Model-Based Mathematics

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Schmeelk, Virginia Commonwealth University; Jean Hodges, Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

mathematical text6 that expand upon rotations, reflections, andtranslations. In addition, the course begins with mathematical formulas that speak to this issue ofgeometric shapes, followed by an intense development of the Fibonacci sequence and several ofits properties illustrating the utility of the sequence in the “real world.” In this study, studentswere shown some past student projects submitted as partial fulfillment in the previous MATH131 courses to introduce each new topic visually and were required to complete a much morecomprehensive project component (hence the term Project-Directed Mathematics). The studentswere very much impressed by the past projects and wanted to compete with each other to findnew projects that illustrate mathematical

Conference Session

Mathematics in Transition

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anne McClain, University of Alabama-Birmingham; Dale Feldman, University of Alabama-Birmingham; Lee Meadows, University of Alabama Birmingham

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

Science Partnership conference onchallenging courses and curricula and the five strands of teaching for math proficiency (from theNational Research Council report, Adding It Up [4]), GBMP has arrived at a definition ofchallenging courses and curricula. For GBMP, there are four key aspects of challenging coursesand curricula: ‚ Deepening Knowledge of Important Mathematical Ideas ‚ Productive Disposition ‚ Inquiry and Reflection ‚ CommunicationDeepening knowledge of important mathematical ideas includes developing conceptualunderstanding, procedural fluency, and strategic competence. A productive disposition includesdeveloping a willingness to persist in working on mathematical problems and developingconfidence in one’s own ability

Conference Session

Integrating Mathematics, Science, and Engineering

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

on pre- and post-test performance of integrated sectionsonly (collected during the process of course revision as a formative evaluation) shows thegreatest improvement in laboratory safety skills, with data on mastery of course content varyingfrom discipline to discipline. While this likely reflects the fact the differing rates ofimplementation of the course revisions in each of the disciplines during the time frame this datawas collected, differences in use of graduate teaching assistants in the labs and the varyingdegree of training they receive also may be contributing to this behavior. Data collected thisyear, after full implementation of content revision, should provide a clearer picture of studentperformance.ConclusionTraditionally

Conference Session

Innovative Instruction Strategies in Calculus

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jenna Carpenter, Louisiana Tech University; Ruth Ellen Hanna, Louisiana Tech University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

correlate well. Students are permitted to take the ACT multiple times and usetheir highest score for placement. Because our state implemented high-stakes standardizedtesting seven years ago in the public school system for 3rd through 12th grades, many students arenow approaching the ACT with a substantial amount of long-term training and practice in takingstandardized tests. Therefore, we wanted to investigate whether or not the Math ACT score isstill a sufficiently accurate method of placement into Calculus I. In a preliminary study, weexamined whether or not the Math ACT accurately reflects student preparedness for calculus.This study looks at student performance on the initial ALEKS assessment and total hours spentusing ALEKS during the term to

Conference Session

Integrating Mathematics, Science, and Engineering

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Günter Bischof, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Automotive Engineering,; Emilia Bratschitsch, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Automotive; Annette Casey, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Automotive Engineering,; Domagoj Rubesa, Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Department of Automotive Engineering,

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, andMeasurement Engineering. Furthermore, the course in General English is involved in the thirdsemester projects due to the designation of English as the overall project language.It is essential for the educational concept introduced in this paper that the degree of difficultyat the start of the projects seems to be beyond the present capabilities of the students. Theknowledge and skills necessary to complete the tasks successfully will be taught during thecourse of the semester, thus producing an increased interest on the part of the students in thesubjects they are studying. In this way we can compensate for one of the weak points in theeducational system, namely the lack of time for reflection on

Conference Session

Innovative Instruction Strategies in Calculus

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Martha Allen, Georgia College & State University; Amy Kelley, Georgia College & State University

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

new or recent Ph.D.s in mathematics. Page 12.598.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2007 Emphasizing Teamwork and Communication Skills in Introductory Calculus CoursesAbstractIt is widely recognized that teamwork and communication skills are important outcomes inundergraduate engineering curricula. At our institution, the program goals in the mathematicsdepartment, which apply to our pre-engineering majors, also reflect the necessity of these skills.Student course exit surveys analyzed by the department indicated that communication skills, bothwritten and oral, were not integrated into the

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

motivation can be used to attract more studentsto mathematics.From its very beginnings in 1865, Worcester Polytechnic Institute has promoted, at thefoundation of its educational philosophy, the balance between theory and practice. The vision ofWPI’s Founders to emphasize the mutual reinforcement between theory and applications,reflected in the university’s motto “Lehr und Kunst”, is ubiquitous on campus from theundergraduate and graduate curriculum to the university seal and the architectural details of itsbuildings.WPI’s undergraduate curriculum affords a seamless transition from courses to real-worldprojects. In 1971 the WPI Plan pioneered a radical departure from the conventional approachesto engineering education by introducing major projects as

Conference Session

Applied Mathematics

Collection

2007 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

S.K. Sen, Florida Institute of Technology; Gholam Ali Shaykhian, NASA

Tagged Divisions

Mathematics

/eliminate thisundesired effect, quasi-random number (QRN) sequences are introduced. The generators of thesesequences are so designed and developed that they produce more uniformly distributed randomnumbers. The study of uniformly distributed RNs was started in 1916 by Weyl [5]. Heintroduced the notion of discrepancy that reflects clustering and that measures the quality ofuniformity of a random point set. Hence the QRNs are also known as low discrepancysequences. An ideal QRN sequence is one where discrepancy/clustering is nonexistent. Forinstance, if we generate K, say 1000, random points over a finite area having A, say 10, unitsquares, then in each of the A=10 unit squares we should have exactly K/A = 100 points for anideal QR sequence. If we