A set of weekly optional online quizzes was used with 104 students on a Multivariable Calculus course (MC), via the Moodle online system. These quizzes contributed a maximum of two extra points, and this was awarded if the student scored more than 9 points (out of 20) on the exam. All the students got the same questions and could resubmit the…

There are many reasons for an instructor to consider using social media, particularly in a large introductory course. Improved communications can lessen the sense of isolation some students feel in large classes, and students may be more likely to respond to faculty announcements in a form that is familiar and comfortable. Furthermore, many…

In this article, we revisit the concept of strong differentiability of real functions of one variable, underlying the concept of differentiability. Our discussion is guided by the Straddle Lemma, which plays a key role in this context. The proofs of the results presented are designed to meet a young audience in mathematics, typical of students in…

This paper describes the development of a program of project-based learning in Calculus courses at a large urban research university. In this program, students developed research projects in consultation with a faculty advisor in their major, and supervised by their calculus instructors. Students wrote up their projects in a prescribed format…

This paper investigates outcomes of building students' intuitive understanding of a limit as a function's predicted value by examining introductory calculus students' conceptions of limit both before and after instruction. Students' responses suggest that while this approach is successful at reducing the common "limit equals function…

This study focuses on how students in different postsecondary mathematics courses perform on domain and range tasks regarding graphs of functions. Students often seem to focus on notable aspects of a graph and fail to see the graph in its entirety. Many students struggled with piecewise functions, especially those involving horizontal segments.…

Computer-aided assessment systems are increasingly used in education for both formative and summative assessment. Example of such a system from the area of mathematics education is the platform Maple T. A. (Testing and Assessment), which was developed specially for assessment in mathematics. The paper is focused on the efficiency of the use of the…

Prior learning provides the basis for new learning. Mathematics educators employ formative assessment to "elicit" and "use" student thinking as the foundation of their instruction. Yet, information can be elicited and used in a variety of ways, so not all formative assessment is equally "formative." This means that…

Though there has been limited empirical research on the cost component from the expectancy-value model, a recent interest in the construct has spurred advances in theory and measurement. We present a longitudinal analysis of four types of cost: effort, loss of valued alternatives, emotional, and outside cost. We focus on how cost changes over time…

Dynamic visual tools such as MATLAB have inbuilt features which are believed to be able to empower students to learn through the visualisation of three-dimensional objects. While student learning through MATLAB has been investigated regarding students in urban settings, only a handful of studies have investigated how MATLAB can assist students in…

Research indicates multi-section coordination improves the academic performance of students in STEM education. This paper describes the process of coordination in Precalculus, Calculus 1, and Calculus 2 courses undertaken by a large department that grew from the merger of two institutions through a pilot program and a project grant. Components…

Our traditional model of calculus instruction at a large public research university emphasized factual knowledge and procedural fluency with few realistic applications, leaving a chasm between classroom mathematics and disciplinary practice. Amid an ongoing effort by our department to improve undergraduate learning outcomes, we replaced…

The narrative permeating higher education institutions globally is the assimilation of advancing information and communications technology into mainstream Mathematics Education. In this paper we report on a mixed mode case study which explored possible mathematical gaps that created barrier/s when engineering students (n=162) worked with the…

In this longitudinal study, we track student answers to a question from the Calculus Concept Inventory (CCI) pre- and post-instruction in Calculus I as well as an analogous question in the next semester framed in the context of Aerospace Engineering or Chemical Engineering. Nearly 88% of the students who answered the post-CCI question correctly…

Like many math educators, I have spent much of my career bound to traditional methods of instruction and assessment. In recent years, motivated by a growing understanding that such approaches may not result in equitable or inclusive classroom environments, my teaching philosophy has shifted radically. In this article, I describe how I transformed…