Precalculus Tools for Everyone

PRECALCULUS TOOLS FOR EVERYONE:

Incorporating “Just in Time” Quizzes, Manipulatives

and Computer Algebra Systems at UPR-Mayaguez

For the past years, UPR-Mayaguez, has been working at improving the teaching of Precalculus, a traditional “gatekeeper” course for most students wishing to pursue careers in science and mathematics. The project, PRECALCULUS TOOLS FOR EVERYONE, builds upon UPR-Mayaguez previous efforts, and was sponsored by PR-LSAMP during the Summer of 2002. The project improved and expanded innovative resources for the teaching of Precalculus and these resources are now available to all members of PR-LSAMP. They include:

Internet-based “just in time” quizzes and review system – These are computer generated and administered weekly quizzes that link to review and tutorial materials. All PR-LSAMP institutions may now make use of these quizzes by entering the website http://quiz.uprm.edu. The USER ID is AMP and the Password is AMP. You need a version of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator (6.0 or later). The new and upgraded online tutorials for the mathematics required in Precalculus are available at http://quiz.uprm.edu/tutorials. No password is required.

The classroom version of the 3-D Kit was developed and is almost ready for widespread distribution and use. It is currently undergoing classroom testing at UPR-Mayaguez. Dr. Daniel McGee will be giving soon a number of demonstrations around Puerto Rico.

A collection of Precalculus activities were designed for TI-89 graphics calculator. The activities include symbolic calculation and mathematical modeling. (http://math.uprm.edu/~kwayland/bb189.html; http://math.uprm.edu/~kwayland/sndwv89.html)

The UPR-Mayaguez professors who worked in this project were Dr. Keith Wayland, Dr. Daniel McGee, Dr. Pedro Vázquez, Professor Nilsa Toro, and Dr. Haedeh Gooransarab. They were assisted by four students: Roberto Piñeiro, Daira Rodriguez, María Alvarez Caicoya, and Ramón Negrón Rodriguez. If you have any questions or would like more information on the project, please contact Dr. Daniel McGee, the system administrator at mcgee@quiz.uprm.edu.