We present a free student-facing tool for creating 3D plots and smartphone-based virtual reality (VR) visualizations for STEM courses. Visualizations are created through an in-browser interface using simple plotting commands. Then QR codes are generated, which can be interpreted with a free smartphone app, requiring only an inexpensive Google…

In this research, we investigated whether the use of GeoGebra Augmented Reality (AR) can foster students in conceptualising a mathematical object by manipulating its different semiotic representations. We designed and implemented, with thirty university mathematics students, a teaching sequence on paraboloids using GeoGebra AR supported by…

The current study aims to determine the effect of teaching a mechanic neuro-computerized course through virtual learning environments (VLE) to develop computational thinking among mathematics pre-service teachers. The neuro-computerized virtual learning environments (NCVLE) model was designed to be used to teach the mechanics course to third-year…

Recently, a new source of data with great potential for use in the mathematics classroom has become available. The smartphones in our pockets are packed with sensors. Most phones have at a minimum global positioning, accelerometer, magnetometer, and gyroscope sensors. We give an example of the collection and analysis of global positioning sensor…

In this paper we present two simulations designed with GeoGebra that illustrate dynamically a key concept in Vector Calculus: line integrals of vector fields, along with other associated mathematical properties and applications. Students are not required to know the GeoGebra environment: a user-friendly interface with buttons, functionalities and…

The use of computer simulations in the teaching of introductory statistics can help undergraduate students understand difficult or abstract statistics concepts. The free software environment R is a good candidate for computer simulations since it allows users to add additional functionality by defining new functions. In this paper, we illustrate…

At universities, we observe a great range of variation in previous knowledge and decreasing mathematical competences of students -- partly due to less limited qualification rules at universities in Germany. To address the challenges which arise by teaching very heterogeneous student groups we use e-tutorials as an addition to traditional classroom…

As literature has reported, it is usual that university students in statistics courses, and even statistics teachers, interpret the confidence level associated with a confidence interval as the probability that the parameter value will be between the lower and upper interval limits. To confront this misconception, class activities have been…

The study explored instructional benefits of a storyline gaming characteristic (GC) on learning effectiveness, efficiency, and engagement with the use of an online instructional simulation for graduate students in an introductory statistics course. A storyline is a game-design element that connects scenes with the educational content. In order to…

English language learners (ELLs) are a rapidly growing part of the student population in many countries. Studies on resources for language learners--especially Spanish-speaking ELLs--have focused on areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics, but not introductory probability and statistics. Semi-structured qualitative interviews investigated…

In the criminal justice system, defendants accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Statistical inference in any context is built on an analogous principle: The null hypothesis--often a hypothesis of "no difference" or "no effect"--is presumed true unless there is sufficient evidence against it. In this…

This article attempts to introduce the reader to computational thinking and solving problems involving randomness. The main technique being employed is the Monte Carlo method, using the freely available software "R for Statistical Computing." The author illustrates the computer simulation approach by focusing on several problems of…

The projects Xmath (Bringslid and Canessa, 2002) and dMath (Bringslid, de la Villa and Rodriguez, 2007) were supported by the European Commission in the so called Minerva Action (Xmath) and The Leonardo da Vinci programme (dMath). The Xmath eBook (Bringslid, 2006) includes algorithms into a wide range of undergraduate mathematical issues embedded…

This paper explores the use of simulations in virtual reality to teach students the fundamental processes behind retailing and product development. The project described involved one class of students who developed their own clothing lines of "virtual merchandise." A second class of students then "purchased" the wholesale…

The d'Arbeloff Interactive Mathematics Project or d'AIMP is an initiative that seeks to enhance and ultimately transform the teaching and learning of introductory mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A result of this project is a suite of "mathlets," a carefully developed set of dynamic computer applets for use in the…