PROCEEDINGS OF THE 16TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (Vol 1)
2013
Denver, Colorado
Preparing Students for Calculus
Page: 1-96
This quantitative study compared the implementation of a problem-based curriculum in Precalculus and a modular-style implementation of traditional curriculum in Precalculus to the historical instructional methods at a western Tier 2 public university. The goal of the study was to determine if either alternative approach improved student performance in Precalculus and better prepared students for success in a Calculus sequence. The study used quantitative data collection and analysis. Results indicate students who experienced the problem-based curriculum should be better prepared to learn Calculus but mixed results in terms of retention and success in Calculus.