Math 111.01/02, Fall 1998
Applied Mathematical Analysis I

Student Characteristics

Students in these sections were asked to fill out an information form on which they provided (in addition to residential, postal, e-mail, and telephone coordinates) answers to questions about

• their projected majors/minors
• calculators they own and use
• whether they took calculus in a laboratory course
• their previous experience with various technologies
• their reasons for taking this particular course
• their goals for this course

The tables and paragraphs below summarize some of the answers. In general, total numbers of responses do not add up to the number of students (40) because all of the questions admit more than one answer -- or no answer.

This course is intended to serve the needs of the Engineering School, and 35 of the 40 students are enrolled in that school. Three are graduate students.

Every student at Duke who starts calculus at the level of Calculus I is in the laboratory program. Less than one-third of the students in these sections took calculus with a laboratory -- which means most of the others placed into Calculus II or III (or beyond) on entrance.

All but four of the students have used Windows computers, and most have used UNIX and/or Macintosh as well. On the other hand, over three-fourths have no computer algebra experience.

Reasons for taking this course and students' goals are reported together, because it was not always possible to tell which was which. Every student is satisfying a major requirement and/or a course prerequisite, and almost all indicated that this was the primary reason for taking the course. Other student goals include

• understanding concepts,
• learning specific mathematical content and techniques,
• having a better experience than in past mathematics courses,
• learning to use a computer (or Maple),
• laying a foundation for courses in other areas (mostly engineering),
• enjoyment of mathematics (prior or anticipated),
• learning about applications,
• learning to work in a group,
• keeping up with the work, and
• achieving at a high level.

Last modified: September 3, 1998