A Case Study in the History of Calculus Reform

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A Case Study in the History of Calculus Reform

• Andrew Balas, Marc Goulet, Alex Smith
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

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Broad Classification of Undergraduate Institutions
LargePh.D Granting Regional Draw,Primarily Undergraduate National Draw,SmallLiberal Arts
Large Lectures,T.A.s for discussion sections Classes of about 30Faculty do all the teaching Small Classes
Research Critical for tenure Teaching Critical for tenure
Large Faculty Department of about 35 Faculty Small Department
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Characteristics of UW-Eau Claire

• About 10,000 students, mostly regional
• About six sections of calculus with 30 students
  per section
• The Calculus Students Math Education Liberal
  Arts
• Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Math,
  Geologyno Engineering
• Faculty size of about 35Consensus?

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What Influences Institutionalization of Reform?

• Department sizeis it possible to reach a
  consensus?
• Teaching or Classroom Environment
• Often times this is something faculty have very
  little control over!
• We got renovated.

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M. Prosser and K. Trigwell 1997Perceptions of
the teaching environment and its relationship
to approaches to teaching. British Journal of
Educational Psychology, 67, 25-35
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A Combined Mathematics Laboratory and Classroom
EnvironmentMarc Goulet, Michael Penkava, Alex
Smith
National Science Foundation Course, Curriculum
and Laboratory Improvement Grants
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