In this paper, we report on an experimental activity for discussing the concepts of speed, instantaneous speed and acceleration, generally introduced in first year university courses of calculus or physics. Rather than developing the ideas of calculus and using them to explain these basic concepts for the study of motion, we led 82 first year…

"BIO2010" put forth the goal of improving the mathematical educational background of biology students. The analysis and interpretation of microarray high-dimensional data can be very challenging and is best done by a statistician and a biologist working and teaching in a collaborative manner. We set up such a collaboration and designed a course on…

As a newcomer to the Department of Natural Sciences at University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (UMES) in fall 2007, assistant biochemistry professor Jennifer L. Hearne concluded from teaching "Principles of Chemistry I" that the introductory general education course needed a makeover. In addition to alleviating teaching inefficiencies,…

For over a decade it has been a common observation that a "fog" passes over the course in linear algebra once abstract vector spaces are presented. See [2, 3]. We show how this fog may be cleared by having the students translate "abstract" vector-space problems to isomorphic "concrete" settings, solve the "concrete" problem either by hand or with…

This article illustrates how a computer algebra system, such as Maple[R], can assist in the study of theoretical fluid mechanics, for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The continuity equation, the stress equations of motion, the Navier-Stokes equations, and various constitutive equations are treated, using a full, but straightforward,…

Describes two general spreadsheet templates to carry out all types of one-equation chemical equilibrium calculations encountered by students in undergraduate chemistry courses. Algorithms, templates, macros, and representative examples are presented to illustrate the approach. (PR)

Discusses the need for providing a "toolkit" of computer resources in engineering education programs. Describes the use of the spreadsheet and provides a rationale for using spreadsheets in certain courses, presents considerations for choosing appropriate spreadsheet programs, and gives several examples of applying the spreadsheet to…

Reviews seven papers presented by the Technical Committee for Education of the International Federation for Information Processing. Topics consider: undergraduate physics, high school optics, a mathematics lab with LOGO, simulations and modeling for secondary education, computer assisted instruction with biology, and mathematics of tomorrow. (MVL)

Summarizes papers appearing in other journals: (1) "Assessing the Impact of Computer-Based Instruction"; (2) "Computers as Tutors: MENDEL as an Example"; (3) "Computers in the Education of Science Students: A Comparison of Universities and Colleges in Japan and the United States"; (4) "Differentiation and Integration in a CAI Format"; and (5)…

Provides an annotated bibliography of references which deal with specific topics for educators using computers in the classroom in teaching mathematics and science. Also appropriate for researchers gathering background material for the preparation of articles, grant proposals, and presentations. (TW)

Discusses the present status of mathematics teaching for engineering students in Spain. Stresses the importance of mathematics (particularly numerical analysis) and computers to engineers in the future. Promotes the motivation of engineering students in the joint use of mathematics and computers. (TW)

Discusses the need for mathematics laboratories to supplement classroom instruction in mathematics for engineering students. Provides a description of such a laboratory, including a listing of equipment and materials that are recommended. Describes the uses for personal computers and suggests various problems that could be explored in the…

Describes a summer graduate level course at Virginia Commonwealth University for mathematics teachers. Notes that the purpose of the course was to allow the teachers access to software usable in their classrooms, and to have teachers program in BASIC and use word processing programs. (MVL)

Includes the abstracts of seven of the 191 papers presented at a recent educational computing conference. Topics include computer-based tutoring, computer-assisted instruction with low achieving students, education-industry collaboration, hypothesis testing, Western Carolina University MicroNet, the New Jersey Science Supervisors Electronic…