The implementation of the program used in this study, TPIXIE, was predicated on the assumption that acquiring the skill to diagnose student errors was important for teacher trainees. The TPIXIE system (part of the PIXIE family of intelligent tutoring systems) was designed to present users with a series of task-student-answer pairs (where the…

This is a narrative review of research in mathematics education reported during 1987. The purpose of this review is to extract from research reports ideas that may prove useful to school practitioners. Major sections are: (1) "Planning for Instruction" (relating historical developments, aides and grades, teaching approaches, problem…

This report describes a computer-based instructional system, the Story Problem Solver (SPS). SPS provides students with instruction about the semantic structure of story problems. It was developed to test a specific schema theory of knowledge organization in long-term memory. For this reason SPS depends explicitly upon a theory of the relationship…

In response to the urgent national need to revitalize mathematics and science education, the National Research Council (NRC) has undertaken an examination of mathematics education from kindergarten through graduate study. This is a summary of a report outlining the seriousness of the situation and emphasizing how critical mathematics is for…

Needs of collegiate mathematics across the nation are considered, and suggestions are offered to the National Science Foundation (NSF) by a professor of Mathematics at St. Olaf College (Minnesota). Changes in mathematics content, scope, and applications have implications for the college curriculum. Problems and challenges are posed by: increased…

In order to increase women's representation among quantitative degrees, Berryman (1985) suggested two strategies: (1) increase women's share of the initial mathematical/scientific pool; or (2) reduce attrition from the pool. However, current research indicates that the decision to enter a quantitative field of study for women is the result of a…

This unit is 1 of 12 developed for the university classroom portion of the Mathematics-Methods Program (MMP), created by the Indiana University Mathematics Education Development Center (MEDC) as an innovative program for the mathematics training of prospective elementary school teachers (PSTs). Each unit is written in an activity format that…

To assess enrollment trends in Michigan colleges and universities, two surveys were conducted in 1976 and 1977. Community colleges reported either fairly constant enrollments in remedial courses or slight increases; many of their students had always needed remedial work. For four-year institutions, increases were often dramatic. This is paralleled…

This collection of documents promotes simulation as an attractive topic in mathematics instruction that provides game-like activities likely to interest pupils, by illustrating the important ideas of probability and showing how mathematical models can be used in practical problems clearly relevant to everyday life. While computer programs written…

This study guide, designed for use at Oklahoma State University, contains lists of activities for students to perform based on the "mastery of learning" concept. The activities include readings, problems, self evaluations, and assessment tasks. The units included are: Lines in a Plane, Conics, Transformations, Polar Coordinates,…

Provides a summary of the report of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) held March 25-30, 1985, in Strasbourg, France. Deals with the effect of computers on mathematics, the impact of computers on the mathematics curriculum, and computers as an aid for learning mathematics. (TW)

Provides several examples of the use of Logo in working with fractions and manipulating vectors. Includes an exercise which deals with the relationship between the two and several exercises which address various problems using different kinds of fractions. (TW)

Notes some of the concerns about calculus education that were expressed at a recent conference of the National Academy of Sciences. Lists problems with unwieldy textbooks, poor teaching, large classes, and low standards. Suggests that the increasing use of computers and advanced calculators can help reform calculus instruction. (TW)

This study evaluated student preparation for a course in calculus for business, management, and social sciences as a prerequisite for success in probability theory. The study included a review of the literature, development of an assessment instrument and cut-off scores, and review and validation of the study criteria, the assessment instrument,…

Described is an activity that incorporates a computer, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and calculus to answer questions about the planet Mars. A possible crescent of Mars is compared to those of Venus and Mercury. (KR)