Author Archives: Matt Boelkins
Short user survey – Active Calculus (single variable)
Regarding the single variable text, I’m trying to gain some information about adoption, how the text is used, and what additional features are desirable. If you use the text in your teaching, I’d greatly appreciate you taking 5 minutes to … Continue reading
An argument for print textbooks
Here’s an interesting article regarding the effect of electronic vs print textbooks on student learning when reading for understanding: https://www.businessinsider.com/students-learning-education-print-textbooks-screens-study-2017-10. “Our work has revealed a significant discrepancy. Students said they preferred and performed better when reading on screens. But their … Continue reading
Active Calculus and Edfinity: an alternative to WeBWorK
Many instructors use online homework systems with their students. This approach provides accountability for students, immediate feedback and multiple attempts on their work, and simple grading for instructors. While I’m always glad to share WeBWorK .def files with users who … Continue reading
How to Use Active Calculus
I added new sections to the preface of Active Calculus this year, including “Students! Read This!” and “Instructors: Read This!” My main goal in writing these was to help better ensure that users of the text are aware of some … Continue reading
Posted in learning, precalculus, Resources
Tagged calculus, resources, students, technology
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Active Calculus 2019 updates
I’m excited to share several important updates: 1. new landing page at https://activecalculus.org 2. updated versions of Active Calculus (single variable, 2018 edition) in HTML, PDF, and print (with updated activities workbooks [1-4], [5-8], too) 3. updated version of Active Prelude … Continue reading
Posted in precalculus, Publicity, Publishing, Resources, Teaching, updates
Tagged activities, calculus, free, open source, print-on-demand, technology
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Active Preparation for Calculus
[August 2019 update: I re-named the text “Active Prelude to Calculus” as part of recent summer 2019 editing. I won’t change the title again :-). All else below still applies, with updated links.] Back in May, I wrote of my … Continue reading
Posted in precalculus, Publicity, Publishing, Resources
Tagged activities, free, online, open source, text
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Followup to my EMES seminar
On Tuesday 10/2, I was honored to speak in the MIT Electronic Seminar on Mathematics Education. The recorded video from the seminar is now available to view; my slides are also posted. If you watch/listen to the recording, I apologize … Continue reading
“Why I self-publish with Amazon”
I stumbled across this great post by Robert Ghrist of the University of Pennsylvania. More people should read and follow it. I’ll add that I agree with nearly everything he says and add one additional positive that’s not explicit: by … Continue reading
Posted in Publicity, Publishing
Tagged print-on-demand, self-publishing, text
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MIT Electronic Seminar on Mathematics Education – how I structure my calculus classes for active learning
I’m excited to share that I’ve been invited to be one of the speakers in the excellent MIT EMES seminar. My presentation on Tuesday, 10/2/18, at noon EST will be a practice-focused discussion centered on how I structure my calculus … Continue reading
Online versions of Daily Prep Assignments
One of the ancillaries that we offer to support the use of Active Calculus is a collection of “daily preparation assignments”. These assignments are modeled on Robert Talbert’s “guided practice” and provide students a short list of concrete tasks to … Continue reading
Posted in learning, Resources
Tagged activities, calculus, online, resources, technology
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