Student Comments about Calculus Projects designed with the Tablet technology.

Diablo Valley College, Fall 2005

“I have been learning a lot of formulas and definitions of mathematics in the class but I have never seen how I could apply these materials to real life.  Having gone to this field trip I realized how mathematics improve our life and contribute to various research fields.  Since it was the first time for me to visit a company that applies mathematics in its task, this field trip was very interesting.  I felt I could learn a lot from this field trip that I cannot learn in class.  I believe it was a very good experience for me.”

DVC Calculus student, commenting on a field trip we took to PSW station of the USDA Forrest Service in October 2005.

“…It also fascinates me that the functions and the equation used are complex, and can be used to study hawk migration, or even elk movements….”

 DVC Calculus student, commenting on a field trip we took to PSW station of the USDA Forrest Service in October 2005

“This project was quite an experience for me. For the first time in my life, I considered the actual practical applications of Mathematics, let alone Calculus, in our daily lives….”

DVC Calculus  student, commenting on a project assignment to calculate the volume of the orangina bottle.

“…The plot of KE, PE proved very interesting and not something that I expected but should have predicted from the equations of both PE and KE.  ..”

DVC Calculus  student, commenting on a project assignment to calculate the kinetic and potential energy of a moving glider.

“I feel like I did learn a little from this project.  It helped me to understand why the harmonic motion function actually works and how to implement it in the real world.  I feel it really helped to see the concept work in reality. ..”

DVC Calculus  student, commenting on a project assignment to study the simple harmonic motion of a spring.

“The project was helpful in demonstrating how differential equations can be used to solve otherwise complex problems.  It was also fun to see how closely the functions could predict the period of motion…”

DVC Calculus  student, commenting on a project assignment to study the simple harmonic motion of a spring.