The Design of a Computer Algebra System to Effect a More Relevant Mathematics Curriculum

罗林斯学院这个为期三年的项目的重点是 计算机环境的构建--由计算机组成 代数系统- MAPLE，一个专门设计的MAPLE接口， 超文本系统和其他软件-更适合于 为普通学生教授和学习微积分。 这个计算机代数系统将演示推理过程 的专家。 目的是让学生们学会如何思考 解决微积分以及如何解决问题的帮助下， 计算机代数系统 这种计算机环境适合于 微积分预科、科学和工程课程设计。 首席研究员道格拉斯儿童是第一个在该国， 开发一种简单的方法来使用计算机代数系统来做和 用MAPLE教微积分 儿童和合作PI库尔茨开始开发 计算机代数系统的课程和接口 来自斯隆基金会 微积分主题将重新排序。 分化与整合 会在课程的早期通过应用题介绍。 那里 将是一个强调逻辑，精确使用语言，数字 方法、近似和数学建模。 计划在大学和地方高中进行材料的实验使用 每班大约有35名学生的学校。 在全国范围内的传播将以文本的形式， 沃兹沃斯/布鲁克斯-科尔出版社。 罗林斯学院贡献了该项目近四分之一的成本 提供实物服务。

The focus of this three year project at Rollins College is the construction of a computer environment -- consisting of a computer algebra system - MAPLE, a specially designed interface to MAPLE, a hypertext system, and other software --- that is more suitable for teaching and learning calculus for the average student. This computer algebra system will demonstrate the reasoning processes of experts. The intent is that students will learn how to think about solving calculus as well as how to solve problems with the help of a computer algebra system. This computer environment is suitable for pre-calculus, science and engineering curriculum designs. The principal investigator Douglas Child is the first in the country to develop an easy way to use a computer algebra system both to do and to teach calculus with MAPLE. Child and co-PI Kurtz began developing curriculum and interfaces for computer algebra systems under grants from the Sloan Foundation. The calculus topics will be reordered. Differentiation and integration will be introduced early in the course via applied problems. There will be an emphasis on logic, precise use of language, numerical methods, approximations, and mathematical modelling. Experimental use of materials is planned at colleges and local high schools which have classes of approximately thirty-five students. National dissemination will be in the form of text to be published by Wadsworth/Brooks-Cole Publishers. Rollins College is contributing almost one-fourth of the project's cost with in-kind services.