Using Powerful Computer Software in a Laboratory Environmentto Help Undergraduate Students Develop Mathematical Insight

格林内尔学院数学系将开发一个数学和计算实验室，学生可以使用软件包，通过以各种形式表示数学思想和对象（如函数、矩阵、微分方程、无穷级数、计算机程序和算法）来增强数学直觉和洞察力，这些形式允许他们被操纵和实验。目标是促进对这些数学对象的直接认识和理解，这些数学对象是专业应用数学家和计算机科学家传统上通过长期经验或不寻常的洞察力获得的，最近开始通过软件工具更快地发展。具体来说，该软件将包括用于图形显示和操作函数和算法、数值逼近和符号代数的软件包。所使用的计算机系统将包括一台Sun 3/160S文件服务器、一个大型磁盘和磁带系统以及8台Sun 3/50M工作站。实验室的工作站将连接到部门局域网，这将使教师和学生平等地访问所有资源，并使他们能够从实验室、教师办公室和教室交换信息。

The mathematics department at Grinnell College will develop a Mathematics and Computing Lab in which students use software packages that strengthen mathematical intuition and insight by representing mathematical ideas and objects (such as functions, matrices, differential equations, infinite series, computer programs, and algorithms) in a variety of forms that permit them to be manipulated and experimented with. The objective is to promote the kind of direct acquaintance with and understanding of these mathematical objects that professional applied mathematicians and computer scientists have traditionally acquired through long experience or unusual insight, and have more recently begun to develop more quickly through software tools. Specifically, the software will include packages for graphical display and manipulation of functions and algorithms, numerical approximation, and symbolic algebra. The computer system used will consist of a Sun 3/160S file server, a large disk and tape system, and eight Sun 3/50M workstations. The workstations in the lab will be connected to a departmental local area network, which will give faculty and students equal access to all resources and enable them to exchange information from the lab, faculty offices, and classrooms.