ERIC Number: EJ1178563
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 32
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1051-1970
EISSN: N/A
What Is Old Is New Again: A Systemic Approach to the Challenges of Calculus Instruction
Carreon, Fernando; DeBacker, Stephen; Kessenich, Paul; Kubena, Angela; LaRose, P. Gavin
PRIMUS, v28 n6 p476-507 2018
In the abstract for "Calculus for a New Century: A Pump, Not a Filter," Lynn Steen wrote: "The authors agree on the forces that are reshaping calculus, but disagree on how to respond to these forces. They agree that the current course is not satisfactory, yet disagree about new content emphases. They agree that the neglect of teaching must be repaired, but do not agree on the most promising avenues for improvement." Over a quarter century later, Steen's description of the calculus landscape applies equally well, though some of the forces shaping it have changed. Students still arrive at their colleges and universities with marginal backgrounds in mathematics, but today those backgrounds frequently include a course called calculus. And while in 1988 technology was widely viewed as a tool for enhancing student understanding, today it is often used by students as a crutch to get answers while avoiding, or just failing to comprehend their lack of, understanding. In this paper we describe a systemic, institutional approach to addressing the challenges facing calculus instruction today, an approach which is rooted in the University of Michigan's experience over the last 25 years, starting with the implementation of "reformed calculus" in the early-1990s. We reflect on the ways in which Michigan's approach is successful in managing emerging challenges, and consider some areas in which further work is still needed.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Calculus, Active Learning, Inquiry, Systems Approach, College Mathematics, Undergraduate Students, Problem Solving, Teaching Methods, Graphing Calculators, Educational Change, Technology Uses in Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A