Further, student and faculty benefit in the enhancement of the relevance of mathematics, in a better connected and coordinated curriculum, in opportunities for extensions beyond the current content, and for a comprehensive educational experience. Interdisciplinary Lively Applications Projects are small group projects developed with partner disciplines that use mathematics. Students benefit from small-group projects, because they cooperate rather than compete. Students work together to formulate and solve problems rather than being compared individually against a standard. Communication is obviously enhanced through group work.
Students feel more open to trying ideas out.
Mathematical modeling and scientific problem solving are two of the hardest tasks for students to learn, and the group gives a good forum for evaluating and improving on informed conjectures. Further, ILAPs encourage the use of computer or calculator technology in the modeling, solution, and presentation processes. Finally and most important, these projects are opportunities for students to construct their own mathematics through discovery learning. The development of ILAPs is an enabling process for the faculty involved in the design and implementation of these projects. They communicate with members of other disciplines in the design process.