Engaging Large Calculus Classes with In-Class Polling Activities joecasper | April 10, 2026 This example showcases the use of active-learning and retrieval practice, which have been shown to be effective teaching strategies. The Calculus for Life Sciences courses highlighted here are large (400-700 students in each), and each lecture section has about 120-150 students.
Engaging Students with Amplify joecasper | March 25, 2026 Amplify Classroom provides students with opportunities to see mathematics in new ways and truly interact with it. Jill Vettrus would have a difficult time teaching without it.
Learning about Students Through Their Favorite Quotes joecasper | March 25, 2026 Sharing favorite quotes has really helped Jill Vettrus to connect with her students from day one and gain a little insight into them as both a person and a student.
Celebrating Student Progress and Providing Wise Feedback joecasper | March 25, 2026 Many mathematics faculty understand the value of real-life applications, writing, and projects in the mathematics classroom. Fewer implement these practices, often due to workload and time constraints, but digitally enabled tools can be used to support efficiency.
Excel Helps Students Determine: Is it Too Good to Be True? joecasper | March 25, 2026 Instructors of mathematics want students to use mathematical reasoning to understand the world around them, question false claims, and be critical thinkers inside and outside of the classroom. Get-rich-quick schemes often rely on numbers that sound reasonable but can be carefully unpacked using tools like spreadsheet technology.
Digital Spreadsheets Build Financial Literacy through Quick Comparisons joecasper | March 25, 2026 Financial literacy is a key area where students can learn mathematics that is relevant to their present and future lives. Digital spreadsheets and well-organized scenarios can support students to understand how compound interest works, exposing them to the basics of taking out loans and saving for retirement.
Twenty Miles a Day is the Way to Get an A! joecasper | March 25, 2026 Students benefit from instructional transparency moves which support their understanding of what is required and how to succeed in a class. Once students understand expectations, instructors can provide explicit opportunities for reflection and self-assessment of their learning strategies and processes towards meeting course expectations.
Using Algebraic Reasoning and Spreadsheets to Work with Real World Data joecasper | March 25, 2026 Students may struggle with this eye-opening and fun exercise, but with practice they will appreciate the difficulty inherent in working with real world data.
Playing an Instrument Instead of Just Talking About Playing an Instrument joecasper | March 25, 2026 This activity uses digital spreadsheets to illustrate the key concepts underlying the Central Limit Theorem and occurs after introducing basic descriptive statistics and the normal distribution as an example of a histogram.
Modeling Review Strategies with An End-of-Unit Wrap-up Routine joecasper | March 25, 2026 An end-of-unit wrap-up via a reading and discussion can support students to practice metacognition by reflecting on their learning processes and understanding, making big ideas and real-world connections transparent.
