This ex-post facto, quasi-experimental study was conducted to determine whether students taught nursing math in the classroom did better than students who did not take the nursing math course in the classroom. First-year students enrolled in the Long Beach City College Associate Degree Nursing Program were selected as the treatment sample. Thirty…

Teaching students to think mathematically or to apply mathematics to the solution of real-world problems has become a national priority. This paper explores a method of developing the basic problem-solving skills in a remedial mathematics course at the college freshman level. The first part of this paper describes some basic problem-solving skills…

Arguing that high attrition rates and low grades in trigonometry classes underscore the need for changes in the approach to trigonometry instruction, these papers suggest an instructional model and present a proposal for its adoption at the College of San Mateo (CSM). The first paper begins with the argument that students' lack of preparation for…

A discussion is presented of the relationship between community college general education mathematics courses and the technical education curricula they support. Introductory remarks sketch the history and emphasis of community colleges; review President Truman's Commission on Higher Education's recommendations concerning the functions of…

Competence in dealing with mathematical model building requires mathematical knowledge, technological knowledge about how to develop a model, and reflective knowledge relevant for evaluation of the model building process. A general conceptual framework for identification of reflective knowledge is presented by a structural and a developmental…

Notes that the derivative of the area of a circle yields the circumference and the derivative of the volume of a sphere yields the surface area. Explores where these or other such relationships are generalizable. (PK)

Argues that the college preparatory curriculum should include more than three years of mathematics. Presents data indicating that 86 percent of students with less than three years of college preparatory mathematics take remedial mathematics and relatively few students are ready to take calculus when they enter the university. (PK)

Describes a college-level course that develops an awareness and understanding of environmental issues through instruction of mathematical concepts and processes, presenting sample mathematical problems which illustrate how environmental issues are used as themes for teaching mathematical skills. Also provides a list of annotated references for…

Summarizes a simple design algorithm which identifies nested loops of equations which must be solved by trial-and-error methods. The algorithm is designed to minimize such loops, provides guidance to the selection of variables, and delineates the order in which systems of equations are to be solved. Examples are included. (TW)

Two-hundred forty-seven students in AP Calculus BC classes in 15 schools were compared to 229 students in college calculus courses in nine colleges, using a testing instrument valid for both groups. The AP Calculus BC students achieved as well as, or better than, their college counterparts. (MNS)

Describes a course (Introduction to Numerical Techniques of Physics) which can be adapted to such courses as applied mathematics, numerical analysis, mechanical or electrical engineering, chemistry, and biomathematics. Course goals (including emphasis on the distinction between computing, programming and coding) and instructional strategies are…

Experiences with complex numbers and graphical representations of them are discussed, with a program for a microcomputer. (MNS)

The following ideas are presented: (1) an approach to exploring some of the patterns of prime numbers as a junior high activity; and (2) an informal introduction to continuity functions that uses pictures to represent simple physical situations, with suggestions for follow-up exercises. (MP)

The use of exponentiation as a starting point for an open-ended exploration of real number ideas is presented. (MP)

The production and application of images based on fractal geometry are described. Discussed are fractal language groups, fractal image coding, and fractal dialects. Implications for these applications of geometry to mathematics education are suggested. (CW)