Calculus, Concepts, Computers and Cooperative Learning (The Purdue Calculus Reform Project)

David Mathews

Longwood College
Farmville, VA 23909
USA

Ed Dubinsky

Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
USA

Keith Schwingendorf

Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
USA

ABSTRACT

The Calculus, Concepts, Computers and Cooperative Learning (C4L) program is the result of a National Science Foundation funded research and development project begun at Purdue University under the direction of Ed Dubinsky and Keith Schwingendorf. The emphasis of the C4L program is a pedagogical approach based on a constructivist theoretical perspective of how mathematics is learned. The C4L pedagogical approach is embodied in what is termed the Activity-Class-Exercise, or ACE cycle. Each unit, which generally lasts for a week, begins with students performing computer activities in a laboratory. Laboratory periods are followed by class meetings in which a modified Socratic approach is used in conjunction with cooperative problem solving in small groups to help the students to build upon their mathematical experiences from the computer laboratory. Finally, relatively traditional exercises are assigned to reinforce the knowledge students are expected to have constructed during the first two steps of the cycle. We believe that our approach makes it possible for students to attain a deeper understanding of more sophisticated mathematical concepts than is possible in the traditional lecture-listen format.

Keyword(s): calculus, pedagogy, cooperative learning