ACC-AY1995-96_022

Abstract

Proposal: That MA2300 (Calculus I) and MA2400 (Calculus II) each be scheduled for three hours of lecture/discussion class and two hours of computer laboratory class per week, and that each course be assigned 4 credits. Argument: In Fall, 1992, the Mathematics Department added a weekly computer lab class to its Calculus I and Calculus II (Math 2300 & 2400) courses on an experimental basis. We now propose to make these labs a permanent part of these two courses and to assign 1 additional credit to each of these courses, making both MA 2300 &2400 4 credit courses. This change in the Calculus courses reflects the national movement in mathematics curriculum reform. Our analysis of the labs held since Fall, 1992 also shows that our students are supportive of this change. Some advantages of the computer laboratory component in Calculus I and Calculus II courses are: 1) That our students become familiar with the use and power of a CAS (Computer Algebra System); (This is one of the goals of the mathematics reform movement). 2) That the students learn to use the CAS to experiment with and explore mathematical ideas, to assimilate and interpret concepts graphically, to discover relationships, and to solve problems not amenable to hand calculation. 3) That the students learn to write about mathematics and communicate their ideas verbally by preparing formal laboratory reports. 4) That the students learn from and instruct each other by working in groups of two or three. The addition of one hour credit for the laboratory component of each course seems justified by the additional time the students must spend preparing for the lab, attending the two-hour class, completing the laboratory requirements, and writing up the formal lab report.