Math 1483, Mathematical Functions and Their Uses: This is a graphing calculator-based course which can serve either as a terminal mathematics course or as preperation for:
A "reformed" business
calculus course
Mathematics courses for education
majors
Hard science courses which are
algebra based (as opposed to calculus based)
Agriculture courses
Human enviromental sciences
A new book, Mathematical Functions and Their Uses by Bruce Crauder, Benny Evans, and Alan Noell, has been written for the course. It should be available commercially in time for the fall 1997 semester.
Two sections of Math 1483 were piloted in the fall of 1995 and two in the spring of 1996. We ran six sections in the fall of 1996 and seven in the spring of 1997. Twelve sections are scheduled for the fall of 1997. In the spring of 1997, the course is also being piloted at the University of Northern Iowa and at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
An Evaluation of the course by Adrienne Hyle shows that the course is successful in changing student attitudes about mathematics. An additional benefit is that the content and structure of the course make it attractive for mathematics faculty to teach.
Math 1493, Applications of Modern Mathematics: This course uses the book Practical Purposes and is intended as a terminal mathematics course. It shows students how mathematics works and provides them with an appreciation of the role of mathematics in nature and society.