On the one hand, mathematical software is ubiquitous in mathematics education. On the other hand, word problems are an important part of the curriculum, and they often require modelling skills. This is especially true with optimisation and extrema problems proposed to high school and undergraduate students. We propose two activities around extrema…

CATO is a new user interface, developed by the author as a response to the significant difficulties faced by scientists, engineers, and students in their usage of computer algebra (CA) systems. Their tendency to use CA systems only occasionally means that they are unfamiliar with requisite grammar and syntax these systems require. The author…

Describes the use of microcomputers to teach number theory to college students. The design and development of a text and illustrative computer programs are explained; use of the programs in a mathematics course at the University of York is described; and the effects of the computing facilities that are available are considered. (two references)…

The intent of this project was to develop a course for mathematics graduate students at Iowa State University. They would design and write computer programs for use by undergraduate mathematics students, and then offer the course and actually produce the software. Phase plane graphics for ordinary differential equations was selected as the topic.…

Describes a learner-centered revision class for undergraduate mathematics students at a Scottish university that used computer-assisted learning (CAL) and added an element of formative evaluation. The Computer Aided Learning in Mathematics (CALM) Project is explained, CALM software is discussed, and their influences on teaching strategies are…

Discusses the focusing effect of technology as a way of systematically accounting for the role of technology when students form ideas that are unexpected and unwanted by teachers and designers of the technology being implemented. Includes examples of university students using graphing calculators and mathematics software and considers implications…

Describes the development of an interactive teaching and learning model involving Desktop Videoconferencing (DVC) and other audiographic facilities for undergraduate mathematics. The experiment demonstrated that it was possible to integrate DVC with computer applications/graphics software to represent algebraic, geometric, and numeric concepts.…

Describes experiences in mathematics with the Renaissance Project, a project designed in the United Kingdom to demonstrate the potential for interactive multimedia in higher education. Highlights include using HyperCard for mathematics software; courseware advantages; copyright; and courseware design issues, including navigation, examples, and…

Academic Systems Corporation is successfully producing courseware in beginning, intermediate, and college algebra using mediated learning, which provides students with instruction and exercises and teachers with feedback on student progress. The courses present students with real-world problems to solve. Users find the courses pedagogically sound…

Describes an experimental course in which the programming language ISETL served as a tool for exploring concepts in abstract algebra, and identifies instructional strategies that facilitate the successful use of ISETL. Offers informal observations regarding the effectiveness of this approach. (13 references) (Author/MKR)

Describes the development of an Interactive Teaching and Learning Environment for Graph Sketching (ITALEGS) of polynomial graphs at the college level. Highlights include hypermedia examples, the design of questionnaires for evaluation, and enhancing effectiveness by incorporating pedagogical content knowledge in computer-assisted instruction.…

Discusses the use of computers in undergraduate mathematics. Highlights include external software, including spreadsheets and theorem provers; computer generated assessment; multimedia software; computer programming languages; geometric visualization tools; computer algebra systems; and examples from the United States, the United Kingdom, and…

Discusses improving mathematical reasoning through the design of computer microworlds and evaluates a computer-based learning environment that uses multiple representations to improve undergraduate students' conception of average speed. Describes improvement of students' estimates of average speed by using visual feedback from a simulation.…

Provides a short BASIC program, RANVAR, which generates random variates for various theoretical probability distributions. The seven variates include: uniform, exponential, normal, binomial, Poisson, Pascal, and triangular. (MVL)

A FORTRAN program is provided for use with computer projects for a course in number theory. Uses diminishing functions and the speed of the computer to quickly determine possible solutions to problems. (MVL)