Abstract
At Loyola Marymount
University, a team of three mathematics faculty members developed a
two-semester workshop-course for freshman mathematics majors.
This course is designed to improve the retention rate and to
enhance the education of mathematics majors.
The four components of the course are:
- Problem Solving,
- Mathematical Writing,
Verbal Communication and Study Skills,
- Modern Mathematics and
Mathematical Culture, and
- Mathematical Careers and
People
This
course incorporates many relatively new pedagogical innovations: working
cooperatively in small groups, writing mathematics, and emphasizing
metacognitive aspects of problem solving.
It builds a community of learners, makes students more adept
problem solvers, increases students' confidence in their ability to
solve problems, and improves their mathematical writing and
communication skills. The
efforts to expose freshmen to modern mathematics, the career component,
and the emphasis on mathematicians as people are novel aspects of this
project. Technology is
incorporated into some of the problem solving sessions and its
application in industry or research is addressed by guest speakers.
The workshop-course employs a variety of non-standard assessment
techniques. The project
team developed course materials and resources including both a student
manual and an instructor's course manual in print and on disk for this
two-semester workshop-course. |
