A New Approach to College Algebra and Precalculus

数学科学（21）加州州立大学圣贝纳迪诺分校（CSUB）的这个项目是为了解决低年级数学课程中经常遇到的低保留率和成功率问题，这些课程通常被称为大学代数和/或微积分预科。理科和非理科专业的学生都参加了这类课程，一些学生寻求满足通识教育的要求，另一些学生追求专业的要求。为了应对这种背景和目标的混合，课程正在以两种方式进行重组。首先，引入适合学生专业的项目，帮助学生看到材料的相关性，鼓励他们写数学。其次，原型软件包的使用允许教师在课堂结构方面具有灵活性，并使学生成为积极的参与者。该软件应用程序使用HTML、Java和JavaScript，以引人入胜的方式提供涵盖主题的信息、演示和练习。该软件的使用范围从简单地提供后续示例到针对特定领域的个性化集中。它的灵活性允许它既可以与文本一起使用，也可以成为课程材料的主要来源。该软件包可以通过WWW服务器提供，也可以仅使用web浏览器在个人机器上运行。一个用于大学代数课程的小型计算机软件包已经创建并经过测试。课堂上使用这个软件表明学生的保留率提高了。在这个项目中，当前的软件包正在被完善和扩展，微积分预科课程的主题也被添加进来。由此产生的软件形成了一个有凝聚力的单元，可以很容易地被其他机构采用。评估工作包括衡量学生对数学的态度及其在重组部分和传统教学部分的相关性。这个软件包正在这里和其他地方进行测试，不仅是为了实际信息和练习的适当性，也是为了衡量学生的学习和教师对这种呈现模式的反应。最后，对不同院校的留校率和成功率进行比较。

Mathematical Sciences (21)This project at California State University - San Bernardino (CSUB) is addressing low retention and success rates often encountered in lower division mathematics courses typically labeled College Algebra and/or Pre-calculus. Both science and non-science majors enroll in such courses, with some students seeking to satisfy General Education requirements and others pursuing major requirements. To confront this mix of backgrounds and goals, courses are being restructured in two ways. First, the introduction of projects applicable to the students' major is helping students see the relevance of the material and encouraging them to write about mathematics. Second, the use of a prototype software package allows the instructor flexibility in terms of class structure and involves the student as an active participant. Using HTML, Java and JavaScript, the software application offers information, demonstrations and exercises that cover the topics in an engaging manner. The software use ranges from simply supplying follow-along examples, to individualized concentration on particular areas. Its flexibility permits it to either accompany a text or become the primary source of course material. The package can be offered through a WWW server or run on individual machines using only a web browser. A small computer software package for the College Algebra course has already been created and tested. Class use of this software indicates increased retention rates among students. In this project the current package is being polished, as well as expanded, and topics from Pre-calculus are being added. The resulting software is forming a cohesive unit that can be easily adapted by other institutions. Evaluation efforts include measuring students' attitudes towards mathematics and its relevance both in the restructured sections as well as traditionally taught sections. The software package is being tested both here and at other sites, not only for factual information and appropriateness of exercises, but also for a measure of the student learning and instructor reaction to this mode of presentation. Finally, retention and success rates are being compared across different institutions.