RHIT - Department of Mathematics

Computer Use Policy - public version

This document is shortened public version of the departmental computer policy for freshman and sophomore courses. The math-only version contains some historical background as well as implementation information of interest to the mathematics department.

Guiding principles

1. The policy will applies to the following courses:
• MA111, MA112, MA113   (MA101, MA102)
• MA221, MA222
• MA223
2. The policy will be consistent with and support our goals for student learning at the foundational level. These are:
• become competent users of mathematics,
• appreciate mathematics as an intellectual endeavor in its own right
• become familiar with basic mathematical and statistical thinking and modeling,
• understand the use of mathematics in other disciplines, and become competent at the application of mathematics to these disciplines,
• become effective problem solvers,
• become competent in using the computer as an aid to mathematical modeling and computation, and
• develop communication skills appropriate in a mathematical context.
3. The computer packages used are:
• MA111, MA112, MA113 - Maple
• MA211, MA222 - Maple
• MA223 - Minitab
4. Following the "competent users of mathematics" and become competent in using the computer as an aid ... ",  each course will have a minimal set of by hands fundamentals and by computer use fundamentals that each student must master.
5. In addition, the student will need to develop the following computer learning objectives

Computer learning objective	Relevant or supported goals
computer as a calculator  (numerical, symbolic, visual),  CAS as intelligent assistant	become competent in using the computer as an aid to mathematical modeling and computation
computer as tool of investigation and experimentation including visualization	become competent in using the computer as an aid to mathematical modeling and computation, and
master the process: situation  -> translate to math -> translate to computer  -> interpret computer solutions to mathematics	become familiar with basic mathematical and statistical thinking and modeling, become effective problem solvers
report writing	develop communication skills appropriate in a mathematical context.

6. Students will learn appropriate use of the computer as they progress through the 6 courses. In the initial classes hands-on class time will be devoted to helping students gain experience with the above. In later classes students will be expected to gain their understanding on their own,  through classroom demonstration and handouts. and less frequent classroom sessions. The six basic classes are our shot at developing computer skill in mathematics.

Evaluation

Each course will have components of the course that will evaluate competence in by hands skills and computer skills. Examples of these are:

• by hand quizzes,
• exams which compel the use of the computer
• exams with no use of the computer
• homework and projects involving non-trivial use of the computer
• two part finals

Course materials

Computer-based materials to assist in the instruction of the courses have been assembled or created on the Rose-only Math Course Repository (Angel).