Is IT it ? The need for IT in a modern calculus syllabus

Overview IT in teaching IT in calculus teaching

Common scenario? Get a lot of money to set up a virtual-cyber- hyper-multimedia-interactive-learning-lab. Get a VIP to give an opening speech about the new millennium and the knowledge economy. Hold a press conference and say you’re world class. Leave the program to be run by overworked, undertrained teachers. Great place for students to use chat and Napster.

Some problems IT fetishism. IT is no panacea. Emperor’s new cloths. How is it going to fit into the syllabus? What is the goal? Is the point only to look good? Courseware developed by people with little pedagogical background. To much multimedia! IT can be very time consuming! Easier to get money for hardware than for training of staff.

Does IT add value? Who wants to read lecture notes on the web? Who wants to watch video on the web? The goal is to do things you cannot do using traditional tools. IT can only add value to teaching that is already good.

Some ways IT adds value Animation Discussion forums

Calculus teaching Calculus is about calculating. Computers have changed mathematics. We need to change the way we teach mathematics. Realistic problems. Show what calculus can do. We must give people useful skills. Programming. Research. Writing. Presentations.

CAS vs. calculators Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) Graphing calculators CAS front ends Calculus Live Harvard Consortium Calculus reform

Rule of three Analytical Graphical Numerical

Publicity The Mathematics of the Public Holidays of Singapore Astronomical Society of Singapore Friday 25/5 2001, 7.30pm Kent Vale (opposite Clementi Road entrance to NUS), G Block, 2nd Floor Community Hall (above the minimart).l

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