This study investigated how problem-solving videos can be used in video-mediated professional learning to support secondary preservice mathematics teachers (PMTs) in developing teacher knowledge for noticing student thinking in the context of the derivative concept in calculus. A model of the trajectory of PMTs' noticing was constructed as six…

We present adaptable activities for models of drug movement in the human body -- pharmacokinetics -- that motivate the learning of ordinary differential equations with an interdisciplinary topic. Specifically, we model aspirin, caffeine, and digoxin. We discuss the pedagogy of guiding students to understand, develop, and analyze models,…

In this work we critically examine a mnemonic designed for the pedagogy of first-order ordinary differential equations. The particular mnemonic takes the form of the SHIELDS acronym. We perform a critical analysis on mnemonics, outlining some of their benefits and limitations from the literature. As a result, we propose a general mnemonic model…

The present study explores students' understanding of calculus-based kinematics (henceforth, CBK), in which argumentation is taken as the sequence of the modes of fostering reasoning and problem-solving. The investigation stresses the importance of arguments students bring to the learning situation of CBK and recognizes the active construction of…

How should our students think about external forcing in differential equations setting, and how can we help them gain intuition? To address this question, we share a variety of problems and projects that explore the dynamics of the undamped forced spring-mass system. We provide a sequence of discovery-based exercises that foster physical and…

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore how undergraduate students in an applied calculus course used the written curriculum (i.e., textbook, online homework system, and previous exams). The study design included three phases: (a) an online survey, (b) individual observations, and (c) student interviews. Students' survey responses…

The calculus concepts of concavity and inflection points are critical for a complete understanding of quantities' behavior, making them important topics of research for those interested in the intersections of STEM disciplines. This study seeks to provide insight into this area by reporting on trends in students' concept projections of these…

Although there is extensive research on attrition in gatekeeper courses and students' cognition about calculus concepts, there is one population in introductory calculus that remains understudied: those who failed their initial course and chose to repeat it rather than change majors. These students can provide insight into overcoming poor…

The following research focuses on Game-Based Learning (GBL) for assessment through the lens of designing and validating a stealth assessment for the calculus game Variant: Limits™. The process of using Evidence-Centered Design (ECD) to create a valid assessment is highlighted through the development of a competency model and scoring rubrics. A…

We describe the use of student-generated video content to assess students' engagement with, and understanding of, problem-solving skills. In this framework, students are tasked with using technology to create videos that show them working through, and explaining solutions to, challenging calculus exercises. The videos are then posted online,…

At the college level, it can be difficult to engage students outside the classroom through the use of effective homework assignments. Although it is straightforward to create assignments that test the ability to carry out computations as discussed in class, it is more challenging to create assignments that encourage students to think more…

The fundamental theorem of calculus (FTC) plays a crucial role in mathematics, showing that the seemingly unconnected topics of differentiation and integration are intimately related. Indeed, it is the fundamental theorem that enables definite integrals to be evaluated exactly in many cases that would otherwise be intractable. Students commonly…

This paper presents an analysis of how school mathematics credentials, particularly calculus, coupled with elite college degrees can allow for presumed proficiencies, resulting in acceptance to a selective alternative route program (SARP) for secondary mathematics. However, such credentials do not guarantee deep mathematics knowledge nor effective…

We examine a group (N = 88) of Swedish first-year engineering students, their motivation, self-efficacy, and beliefs about the nature of mathematics, and how these relate to their task performance in mathematics. In our data, engineering students who emphasized the exact reasoning in their view of mathematics performed significantly better in a…

In the United States, the first course in single-variable calculus is considered tertiary level mathematics. Initially offered in high schools as a means for strong students to do college-level work, it is now taken by over 20% of high school students and perceived to be a prerequisite for admission into selective colleges and universities. This…