Summarizes an interdisciplinary undergraduate research project involving experimental physics and calculus and illustrates how mathematics was used to finesse incomplete experimental information and maximize physical quantity known as jerk. Describes how calculus can be applied in the "real world" where functions are not always given by nice…

Explores a method of teaching called Peer Instruction. Describes how Peer Instruction was implemented in physics and summarizes the results. Discusses the way in which Peer Instruction was modified to be used in an introductory single variable calculus course. (Author/ASK)

Describes the outcomes of an intensive one-month mathematical modeling course and the use of posters in peer assessment of student work. (Author/ASK)

Argues that the level of student activity in a mathematics department at an undergraduate institution is an important gauge of academic atmosphere within the program. Outlines some practical tips for improving the level of student activity through properly directed faculty activity. (Author/ASK)

Describes a mathematics reasoning course at Drake University and efforts to introduce collaborative, small-group, mixed-ability activities into the classroom. Comments on the ease, difficulties, rewards, and demands involved. Discusses student and instructor attitudes towards the collaborative activities. (AIM)

Suggests an approach in courses for mathematics majors and minors similar to the popular approach used in applied courses--using student projects. Describes strategy and implementation of the projects and provides examples from student projects on statistics. (Author/ASK)

Presents the historical development of required undergraduate core mathematics courses. Suggests that a new core course--discrete dynamical modeling--is needed to prepare students for success in the information age. Contains 17 references. (Author/ASK)

Discusses the importance of history and original sources in motivating students to learn content. Describes how a simple question led to a fascinating quest through primary sources. Claims that once collected, these sources proved to be a treasure trove of material illuminating mathematics and mathematicians in an historical context. Contains 18…

Describes a nine-hour, three-sequence mathematics course in the elementary teacher certification program at Texas Tech University. Emphasizes the development, philosophy, design, and implementation of the sequence. Presents excerpts from the activities and group exercises outlined for the course. Contains 15 references. (Author/ASK)

Discusses some of the differences between the ways mathematicians and physicists view vector calculus and the gap between the way this material is traditionally taught by mathematicians and the way physicists use it. Suggests some ways to narrow the gap. (Author/ASK)

Discusses how applications from microbiology and sociology can be used to involve students. Presents a physical context for critical concepts in a first-semester calculus course. (Author/ASK)

Discusses the authors' experiences with integrating financial calculators into a business mathematics course. Presents a brief overview of the operation of financial calculators, reviews some of the more common models, discusses how to use the equation solver utility on other calculators to emulate a financial calculator, and explores the…

Describes an interdisciplinary quantitative reasoning course that uses algebra to answer questions from science. Describes the development, philosophy, and structure of the course and demonstrates two of the projects developed for this course. Presents student reactions and attitudes towards the course. (Contains 11 references.) (Author/ASK)

Explains the philosophy and practice of a mathematics study-skills course through the narrative of a fictional student. Provides a rich description of the experience, and numerous footnotes provide the ideas and justification behind the design of the course. Contains 15 references. (Author/ASK)

Alternative forms of evaluation can provide deep and powerful learning experiences for students. Explains how to implement portfolios as an evaluation tool and describes a problem that was successfully implemented in a second semester reform calculus class. (Author/ASK)