Using Dynamic Software to Address Common College Calculus Stumbling Blocks

Abstract

There are specific topics in college calculus that can be major stumbling blocks for
students. Having taught college calculus for four years to over a thousand students, we observed that even the students who have already taken pre-calculus or calculus during their high school careers had common misunderstandings. Students may remember a technique without retaining the understanding of why it can be applied or what it is accomplishing, essentially only having knowledge of a rote procedure. Educators can address these areas of difficulty by regularly utilizing dynamic technologies such as Geometer’s Sketchpad and Desmos in the classroom to fully illustrate calculus concepts. With these tools, teachers can help their students better understand how to reason mathematically in calculus.