A packet of information is now available about a calculus reform effort that has proved very successful at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at other universities nationwide: the development of "emerging scholars" programs. The Wisconsin Emerging Scholars (WES) program was designed to boost the performance and persistence of first-year students in the UW-Madison's 3-course calculus sequence--a "gateway" course required of students planning to major in science, math, or engineering. The WES program places students into special discussion sections where difficult worksheets and student-driven group work allow students to discover the principles and techniques of problem-solving through close collaboration with their peers. In the pilot year of the WES program (1993-94), half of the students enrolled in this program were women, 40% were from underrepresented ethnic minorities, and 30% were from small rural schools. This pilot group completed the first two semesters of calculus with grade point averages that were half a grade point higher than those of students in regular discussion sections, even when measures of precollege mathematical ability were statistically controlled. Compared with students in traditional discussion sections, the WES students also showed higher levels of confidence in their mathematical ability, greater comfort in performing calculus problems, and learned to value multiple and creative ways of problem solving, many of which they had learned from their peers.
Dissemination materials are available for those who might be interested in learning more about this program and perhaps adapting it for use in their own calculus classes. The free packet includes a preprint, a set of audiotapes, and a final evaluation report giving more details about the program. To order this packet, send an e-mail containing your mailing address to squire@engr.wisc.edu or call the University of Wisconsin's LEAD Center at (608) 265-6369.
Julie Foertsch
LEAD Center
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1402 University Ave.
Madison WI 53706
(608)265-6368
foertsch@coeadm.engr.wisc.edu