Mobile Math Apps

该项目正在开发移动、智能手机应用程序(APP)，目的是提高学生在标准微积分预科问题上的表现，以成绩水平和作业时间来衡量。正在开发内容模块，每个模块对应于一个特定的、传统的微积分预科主题，并包括阐明概念和鼓励实践的可视化。该项目的学术价值体现在两个方面。首先，这些“应用程序”利用了智能手机的一般便携性及其独特的用户界面，同时解决了屏幕尺寸和处理器速度的挑战。每个模块还附带练习问题，让学生展示对技能的掌握。其次，来自手机的使用数据被用来研究学生使用这些应用程序的模式和模式。学习措施包括成功完成练习问题的数量和水平，以及在智能手机环境中增加任务时间。然后使用标准评估工具将这些数据与课堂表现联系起来。该项目的更广泛影响通过其目标是提高学生在微积分预科的成功率，这是学生攻读科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)学科学位的传统瓶颈。该项目的产出和结果也为越来越多的其他课程的开发人员未来的工作提供了参考，即使是那些数学以外的课程。通过对这个社区的培育，该项目定位于改变本科教育中快速发展的移动技术领域。

This project is creating mobile, smart phone applications ("apps") with the goal of increasing student performance on standard precalculus problems, measured in both achievement level and time on task. Content modules are being developed, each corresponding to a specific, traditional precalculus topic and including visualizations that illuminate concepts and encourage practice. The project's intellectual merit rests in two areas. First, the "apps" take advantage of the general portability of smart phones and their unique user interfaces, while addressing the challenges of screen size and processor speed. Each module also comes with practice problems for students to demonstrate mastery of skills. Second, usage data from phones are used to study patterns and modes of use of the apps by students. Learning measures include the number and level of practice problems completed successfully, as well as the increase in time-on-task within the smart phone environment. These data are then being correlated with performance in the classroom using standard assessment tools. The broader impacts of the project are felt through its targeting of improved student success rate in precalculus, a traditional bottleneck for students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The output and outcomes of the project are also informing future work by a growing community of developers for other courses, even those outside of mathematics. Through its nurturing of this community the project is positioned to transform the fast developing area of mobile technology in undergraduate education.