Identifier

etd-07072010-193605

Degree

Master of Natural Sciences (MNS)

Department

Natural Sciences (Interdepartmental Program)

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

“The study of mathematics, like the Nile, begins in minuteness but ends in magnificence.” – Charles Caleb Colton Caught in a downward spiral, American mathematical students continue to be outperformed by their international peers as reported by the TIMSS. This has left educators scrambling to find an instructional strategy that will slow this decline in mathematical literacy. This thesis reports on the framework that a new teacher could use to develop and establish a successful AP Calculus program, while increasing mathematical literacy, equity in the classroom, and student achievement through the integration of educational technology into current instructional trends. This thesis speaks to the advantages of educational technology in supplementing the classroom transformation from a teacher-centered classroom to a student-centered classroom. Such technology can offer many potential advantages to educators, by providing instantaneous feedback, tutorial assistance and increased practice opportunities for each and every assigned problem, affording students the opportunity to develop content mastery, and freeing teachers to teach. Herein lays the true novelty of this thesis. In the appendix, new AP teachers are provided a suitcase, equipped with everything they need to get AP Calculus off the ground. In this suitcase, they will find the instructor’s resource kit, a collection of lecture notes, student-centered activities, thought provoking projects, helpful hints and other instructional resources, and MyMathLab online system by Pearson Education serving as the online component. The combination of MyMathLab and the instructor’s resource kit act as a conceptual compass, helping the teacher maintain a steady bearing while allowing students time to stop and study concepts in further detail.

Date

2010

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Neubrander, Frank

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.4209

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