RUME 28
2026
Alexandria, Virginia
Calculus Students' Mindsets are Not So Simplex
Page: 1438
This study uses topological analysis to examine Calculus I students’ mindsets through coded reflections from successful students. Mindset combinations were modeled as simplicial complexes representing productive, non-productive, and mixed patterns. Students encountering Calculus first at the university level showed more productive mindset structures than those with prior high school experience. Findings suggest that prior exposure shapes how students experience Calculus and point to benefits of instruction that accounts for these differences.