Reflective activities in Calculus
Joshua Holden
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Incoming freshman often enter the Calculus sequence without the
academic maturity needed to succeed in their required mathematics
classes. These students have often succeeded in high school
mathematics despite a lack of study skills and disciplined planning.
Without these skills, they often find themselves adrift in college.
I have been attempting to use exercises such as "wrappers" and
self-assessment inventories to lead them to their own realization of
how important it is to master these "meta-skills". Once they
understand this importance, they will be more receptive to our
efforts to teach them study skills and planning. For some students
this will improve their grades immediately. Other students may need
more instruction in study skills but will be more likely to follow
through. Finally, some students may be able to get by for a time on
their high-school skills, but will use these lessons later in their
college career. Very few students can be successful in college
without discipline and study skills so encouraging these skills
should improve both students' satisfaction and their grades.