Go Figure: Calculus Students' Use of Figures and Graphs in Technical Report Writing

Thomas Pfaff, Michael Rogers, Ali Erkan, Jason Hamilton
2011 Numeracy  
Understanding how to read and use graphs to communicate scientific and mathematical information is critical for STEM majors, as well as an important part of quantitative literacy. Our study suggests that first-semester calculus students do not know how to use graphs in a technical report without explicit instruction. Although not a surprising result, it leaves us wondering about when such skills are developed, and if calculus I is a place to start. Our work is now exploring the potential
more » ... on students' use of graphs by having them formally evaluate other students' reports. exploration of wiki-based systems as a tool to quantify the extent of pedagogically significant factors which have historically been studied in qualitative terms. Jason Hamilton is an Associate Professor and founding faculty member of the newly formed Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences at Ithaca College. A global change biologist, Hamilton has worked to develop theories and practices of sustainability and sustainability education.
doi:10.5038/1936-4660.4.1.6 fatcat:anvzzgq6kvgrpnzba7ngs5hiya