Thesis Defense – Sundance Campbell – Nov. 17, 2014
ORAL THESIS DEFENSE
MST Candidate
Sundance Campbell
Thesis Advisor: Natasha Speer
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science in Teaching
May, 2015
College student difficulties with applied optimization problems
in introductory calculus
College calculus is an early gateway course for many college majors, especially those in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). One of the primary learning goals of introductory college calculus is to understand the first derivative of a function, what it represents, and how it is determined. Despite these goals, many students have difficulty developing and applying this knowledge, especially in the context of a real-world situation. The objective of this study is to gain insight into what makes applying this knowledge difficult for students. In this study, these issues are examined through the lens of applied optimization problems, a common applied problem that students face in many introductory calculus courses. There has been little research about student difficulties with applied optimization problems. This research made use of data collected from both from written student work and clinical interviews. Findings indicate that students face a variety of difficulties as they attempt to solve these problems. Many of these difficulties relate to pre-requisite mathematics knowledge of function, geometry, and algebra. Findings also indicate that students often do not use the techniques of calculus, even when they have demonstrated competency in applying that knowledge in analogous problems in non-applied contexts.
Monday, November 17, 2014
2:00 pm
165 Arthur St. John Hill Auditorium, ESRB