Discusses a precalculus project in which students create a model United Nations to present and discuss the long-term prognosis for individual countries given data on population growth and food production. Students compare exponential and linear functions to determine whether starvation will occur and prepare oral and written presentations of their…

Presented is a guide for undergraduate mathematical composition with emphases on explicit and clear definitions, purposeful formatting with regard to technical conventions, and proper style with respect to content and prospective audience. Numerous examples are included, particularly those involving complicated mathematical expressions. (JJK)

Described are some of the visualization techniques employed in the computer-animated videotapes generated through the blending of commentary, animated imagery, music, and special effects. Instructions for procurement are included for these tapes, which are produced by Project MATHEMATICS! at the California Institute of Technology. (JJK)

Presented are classroom-tested examples of instructional materials (courseware) for ordinary differential equations using the software package PHASER. All of the examples include in-class demonstration techniques and commentaries for instructor use, student homework and laboratory exercises, and suggestions for in-class examination questions. (JJK)

Discussed is the method of substitution of variables within the framework of precalculus level extremum problems, both maximum and minimum. Many examples with graphical representations are provided. (JJK)

Described are the inexpensive construction and the suggested classroom applications of three different demonstration devices, as alternatives to the use of computer graphics, for displaying the conic sections. These devices are the simplified string model, the stroboscopic cone generator, and the capillary hyperbola. (JJK)

Described is an instructional method that makes use of an electronic spreadsheet for the numerical and graphical introduction of the fundamentals of Taylor polynomials. Included is a demonstration spreadsheet using the expansion polynomial to evaluate the cosine function. (JJK)

Described is a programing application of the software, Mathematica, which allows students to explore the various cases involved in minimizing the sum of squares for the best fit of a regression line. Several examples are included with appropriate software commands. (JJK)

Describes the collegewide academic program at Maharishi International University that incorporates speaking and writing into the undergraduate curriculum. The impact of the key features of this successful program upon the mathematics curriculum are discussed in detail. (JJK)

Describes several techniques that have been used in a variety of college mathematics classes to shift the classroom experience from instructor-centered to student-centered. Discusses specific applications of these techniques to remedial mathematics, precalculus, liberal arts mathematics, calculus, and geometry classroom settings. (40 references)…

Describes an intermediate level, college geometry course that is designated as both writing and speaking intensive. Suggests methods that utilize writing and speaking activities to enhance student learning, and discusses student reactions to the course. (nine references) (JJK)

Compares the effectiveness of four different calculus instructional formats based on quantitative measures of student performance, adjusted for differences in student preparation for calculus. Student performance is shown to improve when instruction is presented in a format with faculty involvement. (nine references) (JJK)

Describes the mechanics of group work in the college mathematics classroom specifically group formation, preliminary class work, class and group discourse, individual and group assignments, and impact on test taking. Includes examples from a first-semester calculus course. (JJK)

Describes unusual mathematical assignments and writing methods utilized in college geometry classes for students with little or no geometric background. Includes a bibliography of 51 source books suggested for use by students enrolled in these courses. (JJK)

Reports on the differences in two sections of a college course on differential equations. Results on a common examination showed that writing assignments substituted for traditional homework assignments did not improve test performance. However, survey results indicated that students felt the writing assignments, in lieu of additional homework,…