An Open-Access Clicker Question Bank for Numerical Analysis

ABSTRACT

We present a question bank consisting of over 250 multiple-choice and true–false questions covering a broad range of material typically taught in an introductory undergraduate course in numerical analysis or computational science. The questions are ideal for polling students during lectures by means of a student response system that uses clicker remotes or smartphones running a suitable app. We describe our experiences implementing these clicker questions in a recent class and provide evidence of their effectiveness in terms of testing students' prior knowledge, gauging understanding of new material, increasing participation, and especially improving student satisfaction. Our conclusions are supported by a mid-semester student survey as well as anecdotal observations. The question bank has been released as an open-access educational resource under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-SA) for free use by the mathematics community.

KEYWORDS:

• Numerical analysis
• computational science
• open educational resource (OER)
• clicker polling
• student response systems
• educational technology
• MATLAB

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Prof. Anita Layton of the University of Waterloo for her well-timed comments and encouragement that inspired us to write this paper.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this work was provided through an Open Educational Resource Grant from Simon Fraser University, and a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [RGPIN-2016-04088].

Notes on contributors

M. Alamgir Hossain

Alamgir Hossain is a Ph.D. student in applied and computational mathematics at Simon Fraser University, where his research is centered on developing efficient numerical algorithms for solving problems in glacier dynamics. This has led him to an interest in teaching of undergraduate numerical analysis and use of educational technologies.

Petra M. Menz

Petra Menz is a senior lecturer in mathematics at Simon Fraser University. Her research interests are multifarious: embodiment, language, technology, well-being and cultures in mathematics. She seeks opportunities to apply valuable information from research in education as well as mathematics to enhance learning and teaching at the undergraduate level.

John M. Stockie

John Stockie is a professor of mathematics at Simon Fraser University where he teaches courses in applied mathematics and scientific computing. His research interests focus on problems in fluid-structure interaction, bio-fluid dynamics and porous media flow, which he has applied to problems ranging from hydrogen fuel cells, to cochlear dynamics, to maple sap exudation. In his spare time he continues to immerse himself in problems from fluid mechanics related to kayak wakes, alpine streams and beer froth.