Exercise is essential for mastering mathematics, but it faces two major hurdles. First, students are often not motivated to do their homework. Second, checking traditional homework is a manual and labor-intensive process that becomes harder to support as the number of students increases. We argue that computer games could alleviate both problems.…

Homework completion and self-regulatory ability have both been extensively studied to examine their impact on learning achievement. Moreover, the reciprocal nature of how these two qualities affect one another is also an area of research. While evidence shows that voluntary completion of assigned homework predicts self-regulation in students, a…

Computer programming and mathematical algorithms are natural partners in the development of programming skills, logical thought, and a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. We present the details of a course which blends the two at the sophomore level. This course is required of our mathematics majors, but attracts mathematics minors from…

Homework gives students the opportunity to practice new skills in both familiar and unfamiliar situations, and to develop an understanding of related concepts. Although some of these goals can be easily accomplished in online homework, many systems are less useful for handling open-ended questions. Written homework, on the other hand, takes time…

Storytelling has proved to be an effective way of passing on information from one generation to the next. Whether the information relates to history, culture, health, or morality, the story provides a framework so that complex ideas can be better understood and retained. In this article, we consider the role of narrative in the design and…

Homework is prevalent in mathematics courses, as are cumulative final exams. This study incorporated the memory science concepts of the "testing effect" and "spacing effect" in the homework and final exam of college mathematics courses. By replacing some new homework problems with review problems, students had additional…

We describe the use of student-generated video content to assess students' engagement with, and understanding of, problem-solving skills. In this framework, students are tasked with using technology to create videos that show them working through, and explaining solutions to, challenging calculus exercises. The videos are then posted online,…

At the college level, it can be difficult to engage students outside the classroom through the use of effective homework assignments. Although it is straightforward to create assignments that test the ability to carry out computations as discussed in class, it is more challenging to create assignments that encourage students to think more…

Playing board games is known to improve pre-school student numeracy and many board games are used to motivate and explore concepts in probability. This study investigates whether college students in liberal arts mathematics courses assigned to play the board game "Settlers of Catan" develop a stronger grasp of basic probability concepts…

This article describes a framework of Standards-Based Grading suitable for use in a variety of mathematics courses. We detail our experience adapting this framework to various courses, ranging from Pre-calculus to Differential Equations, at four different institutions, including both small liberal arts colleges and large universities, and in class…

Quantitative Reasoning for Professionals is a two-semester general education sequence that teaches basic and intermediate algebra through the lens of quantitative reasoning. In this course sequence, we emphasize communication and inference-making while teaching practical algebra skills for students in programs such as business, nursing, and social…

Research has shown that the types of tasks assigned to students affect their learning. Various authors have described desirable features of mathematical tasks or of the activity they initiate. Others have suggested task taxonomies that might be used in classifying mathematical tasks. Drawing on this literature, we propose a set of task types that…

In this paper I discuss my experience in using the inverted classroom structure to teach a proof-based, upper level Advanced Calculus course. The structure of the inverted classroom model allows students to begin learning the new mathematics prior to the class meeting. By front-loading learning of new concepts, students can use valuable class time…

Standards-based grading (SBG) is an assessment/grading system that attaches scores to the mastery level of specific learning objectives. This methodology is gaining momentum in the K-12 environment but has been largely overlooked at the post-secondary level. In this paper, I will discuss the implementation of this practice in a College Algebra…

Specifications grading is a version of mastery grading distinguished by giving students clear specifications that their work must meet, and grading most things pass/fail based on those specifications. Mastery grading systems can get quite elaborate, with hierarchies of objectives and various systems for rewriting and retesting. In this article I…