Project:	Collaborative Learning through Interactive Animation for Mathematics

Principal Investigator:	David B. Sher, Ph.D.

Co-Principal Investigators:

P. Cheifetz, Ph.D.

F. Avenoso, Ph.D.

R. Glass, Ph.D.

Program Location:		Nassau Community CollegeOur project

encourages collaborative behavior among students through group

interaction with animated software within the class period, and

with group projects done outside the class period.  Our project

combines the Harvard approach to calculus and precalculus with

an approach pioneered by Triesman and adapted by Sher and Wilkinson

to the community college environment.  We are developing interactive

software that illustrates precalculus concepts.  Our software

allows the students to interact with mathematical constructs,

such as lines and parabolas, use the computer together as a group

to solve problems involving linear and quadratic equations and

trigonometric functions.  The software presents functions algebraically,

graphically and numerically.  Beta-test versions of this software

will be made available at our internet site: sunynassau.edu.Group

projects in data modeling force the students to understand data

and use graphical, numeric and algebraic approaches to the data.

 The students develop linear quadratic and exponential models

of a public domain data set for 3 projects.  They performed algebraic

manipulation in constructing the models, graphical manipulation

when presenting the models and numerical analysis when measuring

the error between their models and the actual data.  Sher and

Wilkinson found that their success in encouraging group effort

led to a six-fold increase in enrollment in their higher level

calculus courses and a substantially increased minority enrollment.

 Our approach is partially modeled on theirs and we also expect

a substantial improvement.  At this early stage of our project,

quantitative results are not available.  

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. David Sher, received his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Rochester in 1987 Since then he has been teaching mathematics and computer science at the college and graduate level.  Funded by the American Heart Association he developed intelligent interfaces for interpreting echocardiograms.  He has published papers on pattern recognition, topology, and probability.  His current project involves developing computer assisted group projects for mathematics and computer science.

Audio Visual Requirements:

Overhead projector is required for this talk.  A pc compatible with projection screen would be helpful for displaying software but is not strictly required.