High School Calculus

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews and discusses the literature 'Understanding the Concepts of Limit and Continuity in Calculus Courses at the High School and/or Early College Level'. According to the paper, the ten fastest growing career fields include five that are computer-related which rely heavily on the knowledge of mathematics.

Outline:
Background and Overview
Studies in the Concept of Limit and Continuity in High School and Early College-Level Calculus Courses
Interactions of Methods and Questions for Further Study

From the Paper:

"Clearly, then, just going through the motions and mechanics of calculus may serve to help familiarize these young learners with the basic steps involved. There are a number of studies to date, though, that have confirmed that these students typically experience a number of problems in understanding key calculus concepts that adversely affect their ability to master them (Bezuidenhout, 2001). To help facilitate the process, just as handheld calculators have been introduced into some early mathematics classes to facilitate routine calculations to allow more time for instruction, Heid (1988) suggested early on that computers could likewise be used to help beginning calculus students learn more by automating the algorithmic functions required. Although there is clearly a trade-off involved in such an approach, this author maintains that this approach would allow more class time for development of higher mathematics concepts."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bezuidenhout, J. (2001). Limits and continuity: some conceptions of first-year students. International Journal of Mathematics Education and Science Technology, 32(4), 487- 500.
• Cipra, B. A. (1988). Calculus: crisis looms in mathematics' future. Science, 239(4847), 1491(2).
• Conaway, B. J., & Reynolds, N. G. (2003). Factors affecting mathematically talented females' enrollment in high school calculus. Journal of Secondary Gifted Education, 14(4), 218.
• Dosemagen, D. M., & Schwalbach, E. M. (2000). Developing student understanding: Contextualizing calculus concepts. School Science and Mathematics, 100(2), 90.
• Ferrini-Mundy, J., & Graham, K. G. (1991, August-September). An overview of the calculus reform effort: Issues for learning, teaching, and curriculum development. The American Mathematical Monthly, 98(7), 627-35.

More papers on High School Calculus:

• Analytical Essay # 126140 : "High School Students and Success"
• Research Paper # 4244 : "Friedrich Bernhard Riemann and Geometry of Space"
• Research Paper # 92223 : "Higher Mathematics"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: