Connecting Calculus 2 Curriculum with Career Skills - May 2025

Students connecting Calculus 2 with career skills.

Abstract

When students first encounter mathematics in three-dimensional space, a unique transition occurs. Up to this point, students have spent their mathematical careers becoming experts in the two-dimensional xy-plane. Adding another dimension allows us to explore this 3D world we live in, but the transition to three-dimensional mathematical thinking does not come easily to many students. To better support students’ spatial understanding of concepts, we can leverage interactive computer visualizations and hands-on activities using tactile manipulatives. The free web applet CalcPlot3D can be used to provide meaningful computer visualizations. The program requires no coding and is extremely accessible to students. I will present demonstrations that instructors can use to illuminate concepts and visualizations that students can easily create themselves. I will show features within CalcPlot3D that can be used in courses such as integral calculus, multivariable calculus, and differential equations. I will further discuss how CalcPlot3D can be used to create STL files needed for 3D printing, as well as show several classroom activities using 3D-printed surfaces.

Guest Speaker

Shelby Stanhope Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Mathematics at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

She earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a postdoc at Temple University. Shelby is a PI on a collaborative NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education grant focused on developing and sharing in-class activities using 3D-printed models. Her grant team has led a number of faculty development workshops, and she enjoys interacting with other educators in a collaborative effort to continually improve teaching and learning in undergraduate mathematics. She was awarded the 2024 Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty from the MAA for her work in advancing pedagogical innovations that enhance student learning using visualization and 3D-printed models in the classroom.

Student Speakers

Omar Kazi

Aerospace engineering student.

Has a strong passion for technology and planes, and is eager to make his mark in the field of aviation. He is focused on learning as much as he can to contribute to advancements in aircraft design and aerospace systems.

Elijah Aguemang

Computer Studies student.

Actively collaborates with the CUNY Center for Student Disability Services and is rekindling his passion for acting. An avid networker, Elijah enjoys connecting with peers and professionals, so feel free to say hello if you see him around campus