>
Final Report
To: ROLAND@tigger.stcloudstate.edu
Cc: RANDY@tigger.stcloudstate.edu
Q7 1995-96: Enhancing Scientific and Quantitative Literacy Specific Report
on:
The Integration of Mathematical Software in Diverse Courses
Key Contact Person: Randy Kolb
Academic Computer Services
St. Cloud State University
ECC 101
phone: 612-255-4103
fax: 612-255-4778
email: Randy@tigger.stcloudstate.edu
Objectives of the project:
1. To provide access to Maple V and MathCad software during the
summer of 1995 so that they may begin learning how to use it. 2. To provide
1/3 release time for one faculty during fall and winter
quarters to train and assist other faculty learning to use the software in
courses.
3. To begin teaching courses using the software in eight(8) classes
during fall quarter '95 in primarily the beginning calculus classes. 4. To
expand the number of classes using the software to ten(10) by
incorporating the use of the software in the second quarter calculus classes
during winter quarter. It is hoped that faculty in other disciplines will begin
having students use it in their classes.
Activities:
1. Maple V and MathCad software was acquired in August 1995. The Maple V
software was installed in the GISMO and LRS labs and Condor, the general
purpose VAX using Unix by the end of September. This software was also
installed in the training lab by early September so that Mohammed Bahauddin
could use this facility to conduct the series of faculty workshops on the
software. MathCad was not received until the end of October when it was
distributed to faculty who had expressed an interest in using it in their classes.
Copies of the software were also installed in the GISMO and LRS labs.
Costs: Waterloo Maple V software (site lic.) $15,000
Maple V software (add'l manuals) 1,190
MathCad (20 user Windows lic.) 5,365
MathCad (10 user Macintosh lic.) 2,272
Total $23,827
2. Mohammed Bahauddin was given 1/3 release time to prepare and teach a
series (10 sessions) of faculty workshops during fall quarter. Release time was
also provided to Dr. Bahauddin during winter quarter, this time to teach two
sets of workshops, each consisting of five(5) meetings. Twenty faculty have
attended one of the sets of workshops during the past two quarters.
3. Several faculty either have been using the software in classes or have a plan
to do so in the near future. A survey was recently sent to faculty who attended
one of the workshop series to determine how successful they have been in
incorporating the software in classes.
Here's a summary of the responses:
Using Currently Planning Near Future
Faculty's Name Dept. Class Software Class Software When
Jane Downey TECH 228 Maple V 329 Maple V S'96
499 Both S'96
Richard Heath BCIS 459 Maple V S'96
Mary Edwards ECON graduate ECON classes
Mary Nook ASTR 314 Maple V S'97
Miles Hubbard MATH 231 Maple V
232 Maple V
M. Bahauddin MATH 241 Maple V 243 Maple V S'96
334 Maple V 334 Maple V S'96
343 Maple V
Barb Barg MATH Skills Center needs
Michael Fiske MATH 231 Maple V SS'96
403 Maple V F'96
David Lahren MATH 241 Maple V F'96
242 Maple V F'96
M. Al-Sunduqchi STAT For research
The number of classes using or planning to use Maple V is:
Number of Classes Number of Students
Currently using: 6 180
Planned for Spring '96 11 320
Planned for Fall '96 14 490
In summary, incorporation of the software into class activities has been slower
than expected. This is primarily attributed to the lateness in receiving and
installing the software. Now that the software is accessible from over 100
workstations in open labs, however, and 20 faculty have received some
training in the use of the Maple V software, it is expected that this usage will
continue to grow and grow rapidly. Although there has not been a formal
evaluation conducted to determine a change in students' quantitative literacy,
the informal feedback from the faculty is very positive. A formal evaluation is
planned during spring quarter to assess faculty teaching experiences while
using the software in classes. In addition, student exit interviews will be used
to evaluate students' perceptions of their quantitative skills after using the
software in their class(es).
Future Plans
1. An ongoing assessment of using this software to support quantitative
coursework should continue. Faculty should be encouraged to periodically
assess the value of using this software by students. The impact of using
software tools like Maple V on students' quantitative literacy needs to be
evaluated.
2. Since the software acquisition was for a one year license under this grant,
the University must commit funds to continue the site license for Maple V in
future years. The current license will expire in August 1996. The renewal cost
for 1996-97 is $15,000.
3. Given the software license is renewed for 1996-97, faculty have commited
to expanding use of the software into more classes. It is estimated that this
usage will continue to grow. As students are introduced to the software in 200
level courses, they will continue to use the software in quantitative activities in
other classes.
4. Since the software license permits us to install the software on all
University owned computers, Academic Computer Services will be installing
the software on an additional 100 workstations by fall quarter '96.
5. Dan Schwalbe, Macalaster College, has agreed to conduct a two- hour
workshop in conjunction with the Small College Computing Symposium which
will be held at St. Cloud State University on April 18-20, 1996. Information
on this workshop and the conference will be sent to many faculty at SCSU
within the next few days. Dan, co- author of the "Maple Flight Manual", will
be an excellent resource for faculty who would like to use this software in
pre-calculus, calculus, linear algebra and differential equations classes.
..............................................................................
Randy Kolb, Academic
Computer Services, St. Cloud State University,
ECC Bldg, Room 101, 720 4th Ave. So., St. Cloud, MN, 56301, ph:612-255-
4103 Internet: Randy@Tigger.StCloud.MSUS.edu
**************
Q7 1995-96: Enhancing Scientific and Quantitative Literacy
Specific Report on:
The Integration of Mathematical Software in Diverse Courses
Key Contact Person: Randy Kolb
Academic Computer Services
St. Cloud State University
ECC 101
phone: 612-255-4103
fax: 612-255-4778
email: Randy@tigger.stcloudstate.edu
Objectives of the project:
1. To provide access to Maple V and MathCad software during the summer
of 1995 so that they may begin learning how to use it.
2. To provide 1/3 release time for one faculty during fall and winter
quarters to train and assist other faculty learning to use the software
in courses.
3. To begin teaching courses using the software in eight(8) classes during
fall quarter '95 in primarily the beginning calculus classes.
4. To expand the number of classes using the software to ten(10) by
incorporating the use of the software in the second quarter calculus
classes during winter quarter. It is hoped that faculty in other
disciplines will begin having students use it in their classes.
Activities:
1. Maple V and MathCad software was acquired in August 1995. The
Maple V software was installed in the GISMO and LRS labs and
Condor, the general purpose VAX using Unix by the end of September.
This software was also installed in the training lab by early September
so that Mohammed Bahauddin could use this facility to conduct the
series of faculty workshops on the software. MathCad was not received
until the end of October when it was distributed to faculty
who had expressed an interest in using it in their classes. Copies of
the software were also installed in the GISMO and LRS labs.
Costs: Waterloo Maple V software (site lic.) $15,000
Maple V software (add'l manuals) 1,190
MathCad (20 user Windows lic.) 5,365
MathCad (10 user Macintosh lic.) 2,272
Total $23,827
Page 2
2. Mohammed Bahauddin was given 1/3 release time to prepare and
teach a series (10 sessions) of faculty workshops during fall quarter.
Release time was also provided to Dr. Bahauddin during winter
quarter, this time to teach two sets of workshops, each consisting of
five(5) meetings. Twenty faculty have attended one of the sets of
workshops during the past two quarters.
3. Several faculty either have been using the software in classes or have
a plan to do so in the near future. A survey was recently sent to
faculty who attended one of the workshop series to determine how
successful they have been in incorporating the software in classes.
Here's a summary of the responses:
Using Currently Planning Near Future
Faculty's Name Dept. Class Software Class Software When
Jane Downey TECH 228 Maple V 329 Maple V S'96
499 Both S'96
Richard Heath BCIS 459 Maple V S'96
Mary Edwards ECON graduate ECON classes
Mary Nook ASTR 314 Maple V S'97
Miles Hubbard MATH 231 Maple V
232 Maple V
M. Bahauddin MATH 241 Maple V 243 Maple V S'96
334 Maple V 334 Maple V S'96
343 Maple V
Barb Barg MATH Skills Center needs
Michael Fiske MATH 231 Maple V SS'96
403 Maple V F'96
David Lahren MATH 241 Maple V F'96
242 Maple V F'96
M. Al-Sunduqchi STAT For research
The number of classes using or planning to use Maple V is:
Number of Classes Number of Students
Currently using: 6 180
Planned for Spring '96 11 320
Planned for Fall '96 14 490
Page 3
In summary, incorporation of the software into class activities has been slower than
expected. This is primarily attributed to the lateness in receiving and installing the
software. Now that the software is accessible from over 100 workstations in open
labs, however, and 20 faculty have received some training in the use of the Maple V
software, it is expected that this usage will continue to grow and grow rapidly.
Although there has not been a formal evaluation conducted to determine a change in
students' quantitative literacy, the informal feedback from the faculty is very
positive. A formal evaluation is planned during spring quarter to assess faculty
teaching experiences while using the software in classes. In addition, student exit
interviews will be used to evaluate students' perceptions of their quantitative skills
after using the software in their class(es).
Future Plans
1. An ongoing assessment of using this software to support quantitative coursework
should continue. Faculty should be encouraged to periodically assess the value of
using this software by students. The impact of using software tools like Maple V on
students' quantitative literacy needs to be evaluated.
2. Since the software acquisition was for a one year license under this grant, the
University must commit funds to continue the site license for Maple V in future
years. The current license will expire in August 1996. The renewal cost for 1996-
97 is $15,000.
3. Given the software license is renewed for 1996-97, faculty have commited to
expanding use of the software into more classes. It is estimated that this usage will
continue to grow. As students are introduced
to the software in 200 level courses, they will continue to use the software in
quantitative activities in other classes.
4. Since the software license permits us to install the software on all University
owned computers, Academic Computer Services will be installing the software on an
additional 100 workstations by fall quarter '96.
Page 4
5. Dan Schwalbe, Macalaster College, has agreed to conduct a two-hour workshop in
conjunction with the Small College Computing Symposium which will be held at St.
Cloud State University on April 18-20, 1996. Information on this workshop and the
conference will be sent to many faculty at SCSU within the next few days. Dan, co-
author of the "Maple Flight Manual", will be an excellent resource for faculty who
would like to use this software in pre-calculus, calculus, linear algebra and
differential equations classes.
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