Integrating supplementary application-based tutorials in the multivariable calculus course

Abstract

This article presents a study in which applications were integrated in the Multivariable Calculus course at the Technion in the framework of supplementary tutorials. The purpose of the study was to test the opportunity of extending the conventional curriculum by optional applied problem-solving activities and get initial evidence on the possible impact of the tutorials on students’ beliefs about the value of learning mathematics with applications. The study lasted three semesters and consisted of three experiments in which supplementary tutorials were offered in different forms: a weekly evening meeting for interested students, a weekly extra hour added to the conventional calculus class, and a workshop which introduces mathematics concepts from the application perspective. The study reveals: (1) significant positive effect of the tutorials on the students’ beliefs (in all three experiments); (2) statistically significant advantage of the group involved in the tutorials in relation to the group that learned in the conventional way (second experiment); (3) students’ positive evaluation of the workshops for better understanding the course lectures (third experiment). Grounding on the study experience, we propose for further discussion a stage model of the applied problem solving cycle.

Keywords:

• multivariable calculus
• mathematics with applications
• design experiment
• supplementary instruction
• learning outcomes