Interactive activities for learning discrete mathematics concepts: tutorial presentation
Peter B. Henderson, William Marion · Journal of computing sciences in colleges · 2006
Tell me and I'll forget. Teach me and I'll remember. Involve me and I'll Interactive activities, with physical objects, instructional applets, or computer-based languages and tools, engage students in the learning process. They help students understand relevant discrete mathematics concepts, and connect topics in discrete mathematics with computer science. Everyday objects, such as, cards, coins, dice, paper, string, dominos, straws, etc. will be used to reinforce fundamental discrete mathematics concepts -- especially concepts students find challenging to learn. Computer applets, covering a broad spectrum of discrete mathematics topics, will be introduced with participants working in groups to understand various ways in which they can be utilized to enhance discrete math courses. In addition, various approaches to using computerbased languages and tools to reinforce and connect with fundamental computer science concepts will be introduced. These include logic education software, theorem provers, and logic based and functional programming languages with there supporting environments.One focus of the workshop will be incorporating interactive activities into all aspects of the course, including, lectures, recitations, homework and open or closed laboratories, and tutorial/help sessions. Approaches to developing and introducing a laboratory component of the course will be discussed. In addition, participants will work in groups to continue the development of new interactive activities.The workshop objectives are too provide the participants with a number of examples, and sources for additional ones, which demonstrate interactive activities to enhance and reinforce student learning of discrete mathematics concepts, and to develop a collection of material, examples and hands-on activities, that will be placed in an online repository for use by the computer science and mathematics education communities.