Expanding the Math 105 On-line Problem Library

Expanding the Math 105 On-line Problem Library

Grant:
Faculty Development Fund (FDF)
Academic Year:
2012 - 2013 (June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013)
Funding Requested:
$5,985.00
Project Dates:
-
Applicant(s):
glarose
akubena
Overview of the Project:
On-line homework is currently used in the courses in the Department of Mathematics' Introductory Program, of which Math~105 (Precalculus) is one. The Department's Introductory Program courses are all taught in an innovative and effective manner, with a strong emphasis on conceptual learning and extensive use of student collaborative learning both in and out of class. The on-line homework is an essential component of this learning environment, providing a day-to-day formative assessment tool for students to learn the material and for instructors to get feedback on their students' progress.This project will significantly expand the number of high-quality on-line homework problems available for use in Math~105 (Precalculus). This expansion will address shortcomings in our existing problem bank, especially those arising from a fundamental reorganization of the course material in the latest edition of the textbook used in the course.
Final Report Fields
Project Objectives:

The primary objective of the grant was to significantly expand the number of high-quality on-line homework problems available for use in Math 105 (Precalculus) to fill in gaps in the existing problem bank that we have available. These gaps were a result of the new edition of the text, which added several chapters to the course syllabus while de-emphasizing others.

Project Achievements:

The achievements of the project ended up deviating somewhat from our initial expectations. Because we adopted a custom version of the textbook for Math 105, the needed number of problems for Math 105 was greatly reduced. Some additional problems for Math 105 were created, and the problem sets for the course were re-formulated from these and existing problems. In addition, Angela Kubena developed problem sets for Math 425, our Introduction to Probability course, for which she has revised and rewritten over 100 problems which are now in use for students in Math 425.

Continuation:
The project is continuing following the grant period. We are slowly continuing to develop problems for Math 105, and to develop and revise the problems in use for Math 425. We anticipate continuing both of these efforts, and that we will start creating additional problems for Math 115 and 116 (Calculus I and II).
Dissemination:
Because the on-line homework for Math 105 is centrally managed in our Department, all instructors in Math 105 are using the revised problems and sets in that course. The problems and sets developed for Math 425 were used by instructors teaching in the spring and summer terms this past summer, and are in use in one-third of the sections of the course begin taught this fall. The Math 105 problems have been submitted to the central problem library for the on-line homework system we are using, and so are available to all instructors who are using the same system (over 250 colleges and universities throughout the world).
Advice to your Colleagues:
One suggestion (which I failed to do) is to put the submission of the grant report on ones calendar after the grant is awarded, so that one doesn't forget to do it in a timely manner.
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