Deliver A Lower-Level Curriculum With Appropriate Discipline Specific Skill Sets
The curriculum will provide freshman and sophomore students with opportunities to develop the skills typically required of professionals in the area of study.
Objective
Foundation Areas - Calculus I
Mth142 (Calculus I): Students will demonstrate the following knowledge and skills: differentiation of standard mathematical functions, apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate integrals, and use calculus techniques to solve optimization problems.
Indicator
Course Assessment - Mth142
All students enrolled in the program are required to complete Mth 142. Students will be administered a final exam developed and approved by the department faculty. The exam will require them to demonstrate the knowledge and skills mentioned in the objective.
Criterion
Optimization Using Calculus Techniques
On the final exam, 70% of the students will use appropriate calculus techniques to solve an optimization problem.
Finding
Performance On Final In Spring 2013
Of the 83 students reported, only 28 (or 34%) successfully produced a correct solution to a particular problem regarding optimization of a single-variable function. This is insufficient. Upon inspection, it was not students' calculus skills that kept them from submitting a correct solution, but rather their skills in creating the correct function to optimize. It is hoped that our new precalculus course, MATH 1410, will contribute to students' increased ability for modeling phenomena with single-variable functions.
Criterion
Differentiation Of Mathematical Functions
On the final exam, 70% of the students will provide the correct derivative for a given mathematical function.
Finding
Performance On Final Exam In Spring 2013
Of the 83 students reported, 62 (or 75%) successfully produced a correct solution to a particular problem regarding differentiation of a single-variable function. This is sufficient, although we would like to see at least an 80% success rate.
Criterion
Fundamental Theorem Of Calculus
On the final exam, 70% of the students will correctly use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate a given integral.
Finding
Spring 2013 Final Exam
Of the 83 students reported, 63 (or 76%) successfully produced a correct solution to a particular problem regarding integration and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. This is sufficient, although we would like to see at least an 80% success rate.
Action
Monitor Success Of Students Completing New MATH 1410 Course
We will compare the performance of students in MATH 1420 (Calculus I) that have taken our new precalculus course, MATH 1410, with the performance of students that either complete precalculus prerequisites in high school, at community colleges, or by other means.
Goal
Deliver An Upper-Level Curriculum With Appropriate Discipline Specific Knowledge
The curriculum will address the discipline specific knowledge dictated by professional societies and/or professionals in the workforce for upper-level instruction in mathematics.
Objective
Advanced Areas For Majors
Students preparing to graduate will demonstrate advanced mathematics knowledge and skills.
Indicator
Euclidean Geometry Project - Math3363
Students will complete a project on the role of proof and technology in communicating mathematics.
Criterion
Project Assessment
At the end of the semester, 70% of the students submitting their project will receive a rating of 8 out of 10 or better according to the attached rubric.
Action
Postpone Activity Until Spring 2014
This course was taught by a new faculty member, and the department chose not to burden our colleague with such a request. The activity will resume in Spring 2014.
Goal
Improve Communication Between Department And Its Majors
Communicate to our mathematics majors more and better information pertaining to internships, research opportunities, scholarships. etc.
Objective
Improve Communication Between Department And Mathematics Majors
Communicate to our mathematics majors more and better information pertaining to internships, research opportunities, scholarships. etc.