The Use of Computers in the Math Classroom

Abstract

In an effort to increase faculty use and knowledge of computers, Oakland Community College (OCC), in Michigan, developed a Summer Technology Institute (STI), and a Computer Technology Grants (CTG) project beginning in 1989. The STI involved 3-day forums during summers 1989, 1990, and 1991 to expose faculty to hardware and software applications. The CTG project, initiated in academic year 1990-91, offered 25 microcomputers to faculty on a competitive applications basis. Faculty who were awarded computers, as well as printers and $3,000 for additional hardware and software, were asked to submit written progress reports within 1 year, or to present their work at the STI. After an introduction by George Keith, this report provides the following short papers written by CTG grant recipients: (1) "The Use of Computer in Statistics and Algebra," by Barbara Blass, which reviews a three-semester project to develop a computer assisted course, centered on statistical worksheets and solving algebraic equations using quadratic function graphs; (2) "The Use of Computers in Calculus I," by Gladys Rockind, which describes a program to help students visualize the ideas of limits, tangent lines, derivatives, maximums, minimums, integrals, areas, and volumes and to see the relationships among these areas of calculus; and (3) "The Use of Computers in Calculus IV and Differential Equations," by Keith Shuert, which describes the use of computers to display and rotate multivariate surfaces, to graph the fields and solution curves of differential equations, and to conduct numerical simulations. The bulk of the report consists of sample materials and worksheets from the course taught by Blass. (PAA)