9451805 Easwaran Faculty in the Department of Mathematics are establishing a computer laboratory to teach linear algebra and numerical analysis. The computer laboratory is designed to radically change the current mode of instruction and the assessment of learning in these courses. The project is developing innovative ways of using symbolic computational software in instruction and significantly enhance student understanding of basic ideas. Under this project, the software Derive is used extensively to teach linear algebra and numerical analysis. The built-in utilities of Derive as well as those written by students and teachers is used for all the work in these courses. Courses are project oriented and require cooperative learning; student assessment is changed radically to reflect the new emphases. The laboratory is being equipped with 20 networked Intel-486 based PCs and software to augment the 8 existing PCs in the mathematics department's computer laboratory. Dissemination of newly developed utilities, on-line instruction manuals, and student projects is through anonymous ftp. Discussion over the internet is used to modify and improve the project and the materials produced. An extensive evaluation also is used for these purposes.
