Compares experiences in two calculus courses for non-science majors: a traditional business calculus course and a course using materials from the Calculus Consortium based at Harvard. The latter program is recommended. (MKR)

A historical approach to the teaching of calculus provides the students with a better understanding of the material than the standard approach and helps as well to introduce them to the relationship between mathematics and other aspects of our culture. Describes in some detail a course in calculus which is based on such an approach. (Author/PR)

Presents a game used to help students learning polar coordinates in precalculus class. The game is a variation of the game Battleship with the major difference being that students use polar coordinates. Includes reproducible student worksheets and directions. (MKR)

Discusses a concept-oriented calculus course as an alternative to a traditional skill-oriented calculus course. Two main ideas of conceptual calculus are visual conceptualization and receptive argumentation. Includes typical examination questions. (14 references) (MKR)

Describes the teacher, classroom, and curriculum of the Consortium Calculus based at the Harvard Project, which offers students, especially women, an opportunity to explore the power of calculus in an encouraging environment. (18 references) (MKR)

The interrelationship between the various forms of the Planck radiation equation is discussed. A differential equation that gives intensity or energy density of radiation per unit wavelength or per unit frequency is emphasized. The Stefan-Boltzmann Law and the change in the glow of a hot body with temperature are also discussed. (KR)

The Emerging Scholars Program (ESP) at the University of Texas at Austin is designed to increase the achievement of minorities and women in calculus, although enrollment is open to all students. Research on the ESP indicates that it is possible to create a diverse academic setting in which all participants--majority and minority--appear to…

Explores a birthday-related problem that asks about the probability of having people with the same birthday in a room. Utilizes spreadsheets to work on the problem and discusses related teaching issues. Contains 20 references. (ASK)

Because one of the difficulties with the standard presentation of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (FTC) is that essentially all functions used to illustrate this theorem are taken from earlier material, many students never fully appreciate the essential role played by continuity in statement and proof of FTC. Introduces the sim x function that…

Describes students' written answers that seemed technology-assisted in the 1999 Calculus Tertiary Entrance Examination (TEE). Illustrates how in the 1999 Calculus TEE some students used their calculators in flexible ways. (ASK)

Discusses the redesign of a calculus course at Stevens Institute of Technology to take advantage of the requirement that all students have laptop computers. Highlights include the use of computer technology; Web site development; computer technology as an enhancement to learning and teaching; and the use of networked laptop classrooms. (LRW)

Discusses using black body function for radiative heat transfer, which can be used in a real-life application in a number of different topics in A-level and first-year undergraduate mathematical methods courses such as differentiation, solving nonlinear equations, and integration by substitution. (ASK)

Lists several problems that have proven to be successful in getting students to think about topics and notions they thought they knew. Indicates that students have not only solved the conundrums (often with help), but also developed them further into research projects. (Author/ASK)

Describes an inquiry into students' uses of graphics calculators in the Tertiary Entrance Examination of Calculus in Western Australia for 1998. Discusses a comparative analysis of boys' and girls' performances. Indicates that the main areas of difficulty for students are interpreting graphing calculator outputs and knowing when use of graphing…

Describes the Treisman model which involves supplemental workshops in which college students solve problems in collaborative learning groups. Reports on the effectiveness of Math Excel, an implementation of the Treisman model for introductory mathematics courses at Oregon State University over five academic terms. Reveals a significant effect on…