The University of California Berkeley is developing courseware for a computer class laboratory that is a central feature of a new four-semester calculus sequence. Students spend three hours a week in this computer laboratory working in groups of 25 using the courseware with a trained Graduate Student Instructor. This laboratory work is fully integrated with three hours of lectures in a traditional large class format. The courseware consists of detailed lesson plans and worksheets together with implementation in MatLab. The laboratory courseware attempts to balance individual and group work, integrates computer and paper and pencil work, and integrates with an existing traditional curriculum. Further, the overall project is creating an infrastructure in the department that makes it inviting and easy for all faculty to teach in these new courses. The project pays particular attention to the proper training of the Graduate Student Instructors. The project is collaborating with the Professional Development Program at Berkeley by featuring elements that are aimed at improving the success rates of at-risk students in these key gateway courses. Project results are being widely disseminated through presentations, a World Wide Web site, and commercial publication.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
9652959
Program Officer
Elizabeth Teles
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1997-01-01
Budget End
2000-12-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1996
Total Cost
$140,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704