Adapting Interactive Methods in the Teaching of Linear Algebra – Results from Pilot Studies

Abstract

This study presents the results of five experiments which restructure the lab exams of a traditional Linear Algebra course by implementing interactive methods of education and software technologies. The student participants are encouraged to work cooperatively in class and to use a discussion forum for their homework. Each topic of the curriculum consists of practical problems adapted for the interactive methods of education used in class. The study uses software products as means of helping students to solve Linear Algebra problems from their homework and submitting the resulting solutions virtually. In the pedagogic specialties the results from the experiments show that the use of such organizational models leads to a higher average score in final evaluations; however it only affects the more active students in the experimental groups. The students with less drive and motivation tend to repeat previous performances regardless of the available interactive methods, software products and discussion forum tools. Similar results were repeated with the specialty “Informatics”; however with less dispersion.