Improving Students' Active Mathematical Learning and Problem-Solving Skills With Video Modules

Mathematics is a subject that has a significant role in students' intellectual development and is essential to advancement in all STEM related studies. Mathematical disciplines rely on understanding abstract and/or complicated concepts and problem-solving skills. In traditional mathematics classes, most of the time is spent on explaining concepts. This leads to the students having a hard time applying a theory in problem-solving outside the classroom. Through this proposal, we will design hybrid (flipped classroom with videos and face-to-face) lectures in mathematics and statistics courses. We will develop short video tutorials and in-class activities for three mathematics courses (Math 3256, Math 4100/6100, and Math 4300/6300). Students will learn the basic mathematical concepts and their applications beforehand by watching the videos, and this will allow more freedom (time) during the class for advanced mathematical theories and in-depth discussion in problem-solving with instructors and classmates. In particular, in-class individual and group activities will encourage students' active mathematical learning and improve problem-solving skills. The effectiveness of this method will be evaluated by surveys and feedback from students and peer instructors, and by the comparison of test performances with those of previous semesters.

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