Search for: All records

This case study examines the relations between the instructional resources, the instructors’ pedagogy and the multivariable calculus content. The resources used included digital resources, 3D-printed models and other physical resources. Pedagogy practices included both collaborative and individual in-class learning activities, instructor demonstrations and homework. Content included topics that typically appear in multivariable calculus. The 35 specific topics were grouped into the general areas of introductory/foundational ideas, differential calculus, integral calculus and vector calculus. We also consider the instructor’s assessment of the activities they use. Data were obtained from three instructors working at three different types of institutions in the United States. The study finds that instructors use digital resources primarily for demonstrations; 3D-printed materials are more likely to be used in collaborative vs. individual learning opportunities; instructors design more activities for the introductory/foundational and differential calculus topic areas of the course; the integral calculus, and to an even greater degree, the vector calculus portions of the course are lacking in resource-supported activities and instructors sharing materials could be beneficial to others who are just beginning to incorporate the use of resources in their multivariable calculus teaching. The study suggests instructional needs and informs about instructor practices for multivariable calculus topics.