OSU Calculus Reform Page

The Mathematics Department has been involved in calculus reform since the Fall 1992 semester. We began using the materials written by the Consortium based at Harvard [1] [2], and recently began using the Ostebee Zorn calculus texts [4] [5].

We have done a great deal of research comparing the Harvard course to a traditional course (using Larson Hostetler [3]), and some research comparing the Harvard Multivariable book [2] to the Ostebee Zorn texts [4] [5]. The two report s below summarize our research.

Note: Calculus at OSU is taught in two five hour courses. The first course covers basic integration and differentiation topics, while the second course covers sequences, series, and multivariable calculus.

Harvard Calculus Report 2
  • Format/Size: Postscript file / 186K
  • Author/Date: Kerry Johnson / August 1994
  • Description:
    This report contains tons of information. The purpose of the report was to compare the Harvard Calculus students to the Standard Calculus students (those using Larson Hostetler) at OSU. The report attempts to answer the following seven questions:
    1. Do Harvard students make better grades in Calculus than Standard Calculus students?
    2. Are Harvard Calculus students more or less likely to drop the course?
    3. Do Harvard Calculus 1 students enroll in Harvard Calculus 2 or Standard Calculus 2?
    4. Are Harvard students more likely to enroll in subsequent mathematics courses than other students?
    5. Do Harvard students perform better in subsequent mathematics courses than other students?
    6. Is it true in general that grade levels decrease from Calculus 1 to Calculus 2?
    7. How do students that go from Harvard Calculus 1 into Standard Calculus 2 perform?

    Comments and questions about the report can be sent to: Kerry Johnson kjohnson@mailclerk.ecok.edu

    Survey Summary:

    Harvard Calculus vs. Ostebee Zorn Calculus

  • Format/Size: Postscript file / 115K
  • Author/Date: Kerry Johnson / April 1995
  • Description:
    In the Spring 1995 semester, the Math Department used a combination of the Ostebee Zorn materials and the Harvard materials to teach Calculus 2. Sequences and series were taught using the Ostebee Zorn materials [5] while multivariable calculus was taught using the Harvard text [2]. There seemed to be a large number of complaints about the Ostebee Zorn book throughout the semester (more book complaints than normal!!). In an attempt to quantify these complaints, a survey was administered to all sections of Calculus 2 in the Spring 1995 semester. The purpose of this survey was to determine which calculus materials the students and instructors liked better: Harvard or Ostebee Zorn. In addition, the surveys were designed to try and find the major likes and dislikes of each book.

    Comments and questions about the report can be sent to: Kerry Johnson kjohnson@mailclerk.ecok.edu

    Talks from the Calculus Reform Workshop


    Oklahoma State University
    April 21, 22, 1995

    References

    [1] Consortium based at Harvard (1994). Calculus. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    [2] Consortium based at Harvard (1994). Multivariable Calculus (Draft version). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    [3] Larson, R., Hostetler, R., & Edwards, B. (1990). Calculus. Lexington, Massachusetts: D. C. Heath and Company.

    [4] Ostebee, A., & Zorn, P. (1994). Calculus from graphical, numerical, and symbolic points of view, Volume 1 (preliminary ed.). Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.

    [5] Ostebee, A., & Zorn, P. (1994). Calculus from graphical, numerical, and symbolic points of view, Volume 2 (preliminary ed.). Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.