25 Pentium multimedia Pcs, a Digital AXP Alpha server, and two postscript laser printers. A video projection system allows the display of video inputs to the class. This classroom is extensively used for lab and project work. Since 1993, the introductory differential equations course has been improved by an extensive set of student projects incorporating either industrial problems or simple hands-on experiments, and a flexible and efficient instructional approach for these projects built on group learning techniques. Experimental and industrial projects are used to enhance the material covered in the standard differential equations course.
Experimental projects engage students in analyzing their own data.
Industrial projects are set in the context and language of the workplace, and provide a realistic setting in which solutions must be interpreted. Student teams solve projects with the guidance of PLAs. Students become active, responsible learners in a setting that models the team environment they are likely to find in their professional careers. This delivery system permits efficient use of team projects in large lectures without demanding unsustainable effort from the instructor. The linear algebra curriculum is a series of two courses.