Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Project-Based Learning In The Mathematics Classroom, Emily Gay

Honors Theses

The literature is saturated with examples of project-based learning (PBL) in other fields (e.g. science, nursing). However, examples of PBL that are specific to mathematics are limited. Furthermore, often mathematics projects or problems were mislabeled as PBL when in fact they are ProbBL. Herein, I will expose and correct the misapplication of PBL; at the same time, I will explore its many benefits, including the factors that determine its success. I provide examples of PBL in mathematics. Based on the literature review findings, I have developed a mathematics unit that implements PBL using the necessary factors. The unit I wrote …

Mindset Matters: Using Research-Based Strategies To Enhance Middle-School Math Instruction, Catherine Harvey

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Launch-Explore-Summarize In High School Calculus, Nate Mattis

Honors Theses

Current research on high school calculus instruction indicates that students often possess a procedural knowledge of differentiation and integration as opposed to a conceptual knowledge (Orton, 1983; Ferrini-Mundy & Graham, 1994). Given the prominence of traditional lecture and textbook-based calculus classes in the United States, students are not always given the opportunity to expand their conceptual knowledge of essential calculus concepts. This project introduces calculus students to a more active and communal method of teaching: Launch-Explore-Summarize (LES) (CMP, n.d.). This methodology places students at the center of their learning and emphasizes inquiry-based thinking during a class. Specifically, two LES lessons …

Implementation Of A Biology Summer Bridge Program For First-Year Biology Majors, Madelyn Aittama

Honors Theses

Students are entering higher education at an escalated rate, but many are unprepared for the rigorous coursework that lies ahead of them. As nationwide programs are continuously being implemented throughout high schools to better prepare students for college life, many students are still not equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Many students feel discouraged and inadequate when they perform below their academic expectations, and for a large portion of students pursuing higher education, this results in discontinuing their education. While retention rates amongst STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students are particularly low, the …

Computational Fluency: The Key To Multiplicative Success, Bethany Lloyd

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Teaching Aids In Mathematics, Sandra Lee Sawyer

Honors Theses

For many years, mathematics classes have had a traditional aura about them. The textbook has been the major source of material. The typical lesson consists of review assignments discussed in class, presentation of the new material usually by the teacher, some applications of these new concepts, and a homework assignment for the next day. This routine is repeated from day to day, term to term. The students are acting merely as machines. The teachers ask questions, and the students answer from memory. This is one of the main reasons why there is a lack of understanding in mathematics classes.

Some …