Project CALC: Calculus as a laboratory course

Abstract

Calculus is the study of change. The concepts of calculus enable us to model processes that change and to describe properties of these processes that remain constant in the midst of change. Now change has come to the learning of calculus -change driven by the need to respond to the revolution in technology and fueled by funds from the United States National Science Foundation. What should be changed? How and how fast? What should remain constant? In this paper we describe one answer to these questions: Project CALC, a new calculus course developed at Duke University. The key features of our approach are real-world problems, hands-on activities, discovery learning, writing and revision of writing, teamwork, and intelligent use of available tools.