Auteur principal			Co-auteurs(s)
Nom :	Dr. Mary Ann Connors		Nom :	Dr. Edward Connors
Courriel :	mconnors@wsc.ma.edu		Courriel :	connors@math.umass.edu
Institution ou compagnie:	Westfield State College		Nom :
Département:	Mathematics		Courriel :
Ville :	Westfield		Nom :
État/Province :	MA		Courriel :
Pays :	USA		Nom :
Type de présentation:	Conférence :  25 minutes.		Courriel :
Conférence et numéro :	Derive & TI-CAS  ,    Numéro : D16		Horaire :   Local :	vendredi, 12h00   1520
Site Internet :
Titre de la communication :	Technology in Mathematics Teacher Preparation Courses
Résumé de la communication :
Common themes in requirements for prospective mathematics teachers include mathematical modelling, problem solving, effective use of technology, and communicating mathematics. In this presentation we will demonstrate how prospective teachers can use technology effectively to analyze the predator prey model. In our courses we assign student projects to provide the opportunity for students to communicate mathematics. We require that students work in teams to make a formal presentation to the class with the technology of their choice. Some students use a computer with presentation software and/or access to the Internet. Others use calculators, posters, and transparencies on overhead projectors. For example, the students can use the technology of the TI-89 or Voyage 200 computer algebra system to explore the differential equations of the predator prey model and interpret solutions from three different points of view: graphical, numerical, and analytical. Slope fields and graphs of solutions or direction fields and solution curves in the phase plane contribute to better understanding of long term behavior of the model. Tables of approximate solutions using Euler or Runge-Kutta methods also provide information. Graphs and tables of exact or approximate solutions can be compared on a split screen. Exact symbolic solutions to many 1st- and 2nd-order ordinary differential equations can be computed easily. Matrices, eigenvalues and eigenvectors are also easily handled to determine the exact solutions to systems of ordinary differential equations.