PERC 2013 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Developing biologically relevant mathematical competence in introductory physics |
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| Abstract: | Quantitative skills and mathematical reasoning are considered central to introductory physics. Increasingly, physics is seen as a place where students can begin to develop skills that are critical for modern biology such as using mathematical representations to organize conceptual understanding, reasoning about parametric dependence and limiting cases, understanding the implications of units as dimensions, and making and justifying quantitative estimations. In our introductory physics course for life science majors our aim is to help students see the relevance and utility of mathematical reasoning. We do so by explicitly integrating biology examples into the course and by emphasizing how math can be used to deepen understanding. In this poster we present an analysis of student reactions to math in this course and discuss the challenges and opportunities of developing biologically relevant mathematical competence in introductory physics. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Julia Gouvea University of Maryland, College Park Phone: 6313382456 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Benjamin Dreyfus, Benjamin Geller, Vashti Sawtelle, Chandra Turpen, Joe Redish |
