Writing and communication are essential skills for success in the workplace or in graduate school, yet writing and communication are often the last thing that instructors think about incorporating into a mathematics course. A mathematical modeling course provides a natural environment for writing assignments. This article is an analysis of the…

In this paper we discuss why a senior capstone course is the perfect setting to reward graduating seniors with some of the more fun and interesting aspects of advanced mathematics. We provide a beginner's list of topics to consider as well as a method of implementing these tidbits outside of the classroom if time is an issue.

Constructivism is currently a hotly debated topic, with proponents and opponents equally adamant and emotional with respect to their viewpoints. Many misconceptions exist on both sides of the debate, and misuses of terminology and attribution are rampant. Constructivism is a theory of learning, not a particular approach to instruction and not a…

Encouraging students to make independent discoveries is an effective way to get them excited about mathematics, and sharing their triumphant moments (their light bulb moments) helps to spread this excitement to their peers. A Mathematics for the Liberal Arts course is a perfect venue for the sharing of light bulb moments, as it helps to correct…

Raises issues and questions concerning the judicious choice of a textbook to teach the history of mathematics. (Author/KHR)

Described are student/consultant reports, turned in as homework, that reflected their abilities to distinguish useful from irrelevant information, solve the underlying calculus extremum problem, and reconcile the individual mathematical solutions with the ethical considerations surrounding the moral dilemma of the hypothetical consulting client.…

Recommendations are made for introduction into mathematics undergraduate degree program of a course that focuses on issues relating to the cultural perspective of the discipline and for the allowance of more time and formal analysis about the history and philosophy underlying the topics examined within all mathematics courses. A list of 15…

Discusses and provides sample lessons of learning by discovery and weekly problem sets, which are presented as alternative methods for teaching college calculus. Both approaches stress conceptual understanding and guide the students to explore the ideas of calculus in small groups in a computer laboratory setting. (JJK)

Emphasizes, and illustrates with examples, the importance of taking classroom time to rectify incorrect student thinking by immediately undoing, or unraveling, students' misconceptions, errors, or misapplications. When this process is cultivated without a judgmental attitude on the part of the teacher, students' confidence is inspired and…

Discusses the rationale and a method for the instructional use of graphing calculators as an intermediary step between the intuitive notion of the concept of a limit and its formal epsilon-delta definition. (JJK)

Calculus must evolve or face the prospect of becoming irrelevant. The minimum level of classroom technology now available requires us to rethink the content of our calculus courses. Proposes using graphing calculators and computer algebra systems to include the following topics: local linearity, optimization problems, families of curves, and…