Calculus is COOL – an ODE for practical demonstrations in calculus class
Most people consider the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus the crown jewel of single variable calculus. It’s hard to argue with them; the theorem captures the essence of calculus by marrying differentiation and integration in a (relatively) simple statement. However, I find that it’s at differential equations and modelling where the ideas and tools of calculus…
Read MoreTeaching practices to introduce limits of functions in the first year of university
Although lectures remain the dominant teaching method in higher education, their effectiveness in improving student understanding is widely questioned. Nevertheless, lectures provide teachers with an opportunity to build on students’ prior knowledge and introduce new concepts by using words, drawings and symbols. Lectures may also contain examples and prepare students for subsequent activities, such as…
Read MoreActive Learning Classroom Techniques
Goal of the Teaching Practice The goal was to improve students’ ability to read mathematics independently, solve problems without templates, and develop deeper understanding through sustained focus. The course design was informed by work emphasizing active problem solving and extended, distraction-free engagement. A secondary goal was to create a classroom structure that supports students with…
Read MoreLet them do the work! – Guided Reinvention in Math Education
A problem that we often encounter in our teaching, is that through abstraction the intuition behind mathematical results get lost. Of course, for mathematician abstraction helps to push intuitive ideas to their limit, but for a student abstractions can become a notational burden. Rigorous mathematics runs the risk of turning cute ideas into conceptual monsters…
Read MoreBrewing Alien Beer: Calculus Legacy as a Ludo-Didactical Experiment in a First-Year Engineering Calculus Course
Calculus is a foundational course in STEM programs, closely connected to various engineering disciplines, yet many first-year students experience this subject as abstract and demotivating. It often functions as a “gatekeeper course” hindering students’ motivation to continue. From this perspective, we redesigned the tutorials of a first-year calculus course with improved teaching philosophies, leading to…
Read MoreOn the Calculus Evolution in Dutch Secondary Education
Explore the historical evolution of calculus education in Dutch secondary schools, tracing its introduction in 1958 after decades of debate and the influence of the New Math movement in the 1960s. Discover how pedagogical shifts, including the Realistic Mathematics Education approach, reshaped calculus courses, offering meaningful applications and adapting to diverse disciplines and student interests.
Read MoreA new model to teach statistical inference
While statistical inference plays a crucial role in decision-making, learning and teaching it have been experienced as challenging. Kula and Koçer’s study reveals the construction and application frameworks within statistical inference. By emphasizing the direction of construction, this research offers valuable insights to enhance statistical education and practical application within a new model for teaching…
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