College Prep Math
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College Prep Math (CPM) is designed to address several issues. For students who have been enjoying their school math, the course is an opportunity to learn what is important at the university level before they get to the university. For students who have been turned off by school math, this course is an opportunity for a new start and a fast track to the math (in context) that actually arises in science, engineering, technology and in the workplace. Students in conventional courses attempt to learn the material through a maze of unfamiliar words. They are forced to memorize because they don't always have an idea about what the words mean. In CPM, the understanding students get through visualization and experimentation minimizes the need for memorization. In CPM, only after an issue has been set up visually do the words go on. And when the words go on, they are in standard American and not in the stilted language usually associated with conventional mathematics textbooks. Using interactive lessons and the power of Mathematica, students in this course will learn hands-on through experimentation. Computer homework problems are assigned weekly and are followed up with literacy problems, which are done on paper. Help is available through e-mail and on-line chat tutors. The course instructor is assisted by undergraduate students to help grade and answer student questions. Traditional lectures are not a part of this course. The course instructor helps guide the students through the lessons and then leads a discussion session to help students share what they have learned with each other.
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