There has been a broad wave of change in tertiary calculus courses in the past decade. However, the much-needed change in tertiary pre-calculus programmes--aimed at bridging the gap between high-school mathematics and tertiary mathematics--is happening at a far slower pace. Following a discussion on the nature of the gap and the objectives of a…

The individualized community college calculus course described here was developed to accomodate differences in student learning rates. It consists of three units: (I) limits and continuity; (II) the derivative with applications; and (III) the integral with applications. There are three sections in Unit I, four sections in Unit II, and five…

Examples illustrate the use of APL for teaching selected topics from logic, set theory, algebra, number theory, and calculus using the glass box approach. (MP)

Practical tips are presented for teaching concepts related to percentage and the integration of powers of "e." (PK)

This study explores computer-meditated tutoring and a traditional tutoring model that is carried out on a face-to-face basis and investigates whether there is a difference in high school students' mathematics achievement. In this study, there was no statistically significant difference between the face-to-face and the computer-mediated tutored…

The symposium is seen to create an opportunity for students to understand the way mathematics is actually used in their own fields and to understand both their own potential as mathematics users and inherent difficulties in modeling. The symposium acts as a capstone for a two-semester, introductory calculus course. (MP)

An unusual alternative starting point for instruction in a beginning calculus course that focuses on Fixed Point Iteration (FPI) is presented. (MP)

Discusses three different writing assignments used in calculus courses. The assignments represent personal, informational, and blended purposes. (Author/MM)

Presents an exploration of conversation in a single episode of a 12th grade girls' calculus class. Analyzes Habermasian communicative competence which requires students to show critical thinking and the ability to express their views. Explains learning outcomes by teachers' mode of questioning, cooperative endeavor by students, instructional…

Describes a two-semester numerical methods course that serves as a research experience for undergraduate students without requiring external funding or the modification of current curriculum. Uses an engineering problem to introduce students to constrained optimization via a variation of the traditional isoperimetric problem of finding the curve…

Discussed is the tendency of students to equate the concepts of continuity and connected graphs based on their lack of an understanding of such concepts as limit points, closed sets, and connected sets. Included is a theorem with three lemmas with their proofs. (KR)

Describes the behavior of five calculus professors and their students based on observations of calculus classes. Results showed that the dominant mode of instruction was lecture and students were usually not actively engaged in doing mathematics. (14 references) (Author/MKR)

Gives a general description of reformed calculus efforts and describes experiences with two reformed calculus programs together with traditional calculus. Also provides comparisons between these three programs using teaching evaluations and student journals. (Author/MKR)

Describes numerical differentiation and the central difference formula in numerical analysis. Presents three computer programs that approximate the first derivative of a function utilizing the central difference formula. Analyzes conditions under which the approximation formula is exact. (MDH)

Argues that the derivation of the area of a circle using integral calculus is invalid. Describes the derivation of the area of a circle when the formula is not known by inscribing and circumscribing the circle with regular polygons whose areas converge to the same number. (MDH)