Oct. 7, 2005
We Need Students who Would Like to Help Evaluate and Improve
our Calculus 1, 2, 3, and ODE/Linear Algebra Curriculum
The CU-Denver Department of Mathematics is modifying the mathematics courses engineering students are required to take by incorporating more technology and more applications projects in a project called Intermath. Though this has been done at other universities, there has been no systematic study performed to determine how effective this is. The Department of Mathematics has recently received a grant from the National Science Foundation to incorporate changes and evaluate the effectiveness of these changes. We would like to follow 40 students who are now taking Calculus 2 as they progress through this curriculum. We need a diversity of students (g.p.a., gender, age, race) representing our student population in general. The evaluation process will involve three 30 minute interviews with a program evaluator who is not associated with the University of Colorado. The interviews will take place this semester (Fall of 2005), and once a year during the next two years (Spring of 2006, and Spring of 2007). If selected, we will make every effort to keep your involvement anonymous – Prof. Bennethum and the program evaluator will be the only persons knowing who is participating. Samples of participants mathematical work (homework, exams, written reports) may be photocopied, and then all personal identifying marks on the paper (name, course section number,…) will be inked out and only a code will be used to identify the individual’s work. There will be no financial compensation, but at the end of the two years your counselor will receive a letter in recognition of your valuable input, and you will be influencing how mathematics is taught at this level not only at CU-Denver but nation-wide.
As with any research study, there are risks. We will make every effort to keep your comments and participation in the study confidential. Prof. Bennethum and the program evaluator (not associated with the University of Colorado) will know which individuals are participating in this study. Your current instructor and future instructors should not know which students are participating. When collecting mathematical work, all students work will be collected and Prof. Bennethum will copy the appropriate portions of the participants work. All students work will then be returned to the instructor. If confidentiality is broken, it could result in other people knowing the statements you have made to the evaluator (which could lead to some embarrassment) and it could potentially affect the grade you receive in a mathematics course. If you feel that a breach of confidentiality has influenced a mathematics course grade, please contact me before July 1, 2007, and a review process will begin. If you have any questions regarding the rights of a subject in a research project, please contact the HSRC Administrator, 1380 Lawrence St, Suite 1400, (303) 556-4060.
Whether you chose to participate in this study or not, please fill out the following form and return it to Lynn Bennethum. There will be no penalty for choosing not to participate. If you change your mind about participating or not participating in the next 3 days, please contact me (contact information below). In addition, if you have any questions during the study, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your time.
Lynn Bennethum
Associate Chair, Department of Mathematics
Lynn.Bennethum@cudenver.edu (303) 556-4810
Name ________________________________________
2411 Section (circle) 001 (MW 1pm) 002 (MW 5pm) 003 (TR 9am)
Check one of the following:
____ I would like to participate ______ I would not like to participate in this study
If you would like to participate, please answer the following questions:
College GPA (approximately)
___ 3.7-4.0 ___ 3.3-3.6 ___ 3.0-3.2
___ 2.7-2.9 ___ 2.3-2.6 ___ 2.0-2.2
___ 1.7-1.9 ___ 1.3-1.6 ___ 1.0-1.2
Age
___ 17 or under __ 18-20 ___ 21-25 ___ 26-30
___ 31-35 ___ 36-40 ___ 41-49 ___ 50 or over
Race
___ Asian or Pacific Islander ___ Black ___ Hispanic
___ Native American or Alaskan ___ White or Caucasian
Gender
___ male ___ female
Last Math Course taken (name, not course number) and where it was taken
_______________________________ ______________________
Math Course Institution where took
Major (field which you plan to major in, or if undecided, write ‘undecided’)
________________________________
Contact information: e-mail:___________________ phone:_________________
I understand the risks of participating in this study, as explained in the memo I received. I accept these risks and would like to participate in the Intermath evaluation study. Please note that we will limit the number of participants to 40, so all students wanting to participate may not be selected.
_______________________________________________ ______________
Signature Date