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The Math Emporium: Student-Paced Mathematics 24/7
Robert F. Olin
Professor and Chairman
Department of Mathematics
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia
olin@vt.edu
We had three compelling reasons for bringing learning technology to the Math Department and creating the Math Emporium here at Virginia Tech. First, we suddenly had an increase of about 1,800 students, and at Virginia Tech nearly every single entering student takes mathematics. At the same time, the school was going through a budget crisis....Second, a
major calculus reform movement was sweeping the country,...and the Virginia Tech Math Department jumped right into that stream. Third, Virginia Tech wanted to be known as a leader in using technology...that was when the idea of teaching math in a computer-enhanced environment got its start...The core idea was that the best time to teach mathematics is when the student wants to do it. We needed a place--with computers, software, and roving instructors--that's open all day for the students to come in and do their self-paced study...The Math Emporium is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week....The Emporium has been so successful that a lot of institutions are building these facilities now....Math departments are catching on to this way of solving the "Math Problem": Is there a better way to help students learn the math they didn't learn in high school?...
If you have any questions, you can contact me at:
olin@vt.edu
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