The purpose of this project is to equip a laboratory classroom with PCs and upgrade a previously existing classroom of PCs so as to support an alternative technology-based mathematics curriculum that any technical major could pursue. The courses affected by this project include three standard lower-division sequences: College Algebra and Applied Calculus for business majors; Precalculus, Calculus I and II for physical science majors; and Linear Algebra and Discrete Math for math and computer science majors. These sequences form the three branches of a "technology track." Courses in each branch are coordinated to ensure continuity of instructional delivery, classroom activities, testing, and software. The design framework being used to create the courseware is shaped by current mathematics education reform efforts and includes laboratory experiences, lean and cohesive syllabi, an emphasis on realistic and meaningful applications, and a fundamental reliance on modern software technology's capabilities for interaction and visualization to illustrate, interpret, and explore diverse dimensions of mathematical concepts and techniques in ways not possible by other means. Mathematica and Maple serve as the computational platforms for this project. The goal of the project is to measure the true long-term impact of technology and lab experiences on mathematical literacy and retention at urban commuter schools.
