Transforming ODE Education: Integrating Modeling Projects to Engage Future Mathematics Teachers
0Day 1 | 1:00 PM–1:30 PM
"Transforming ODE Education: Integrating Modeling Projects to Engage Future Mathematics Teachers"
Presented by:
Jean Marie Linhart, Central Washington University, Ellensburg WA USA
https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/simiode/expo/2025
Abstract: How can we prepare future mathematics teachers to bring mathematics alive in their classrooms? This question and the need for our course to also serve mathematics and physics majors drove the redesign of our ODE course to emphasize the modeling cycle with hands-on learning experiences. Through collaboration between mathematics and mathematics education faculty, and in consultation with physics faculty, we developed new learner outcomes that bridge theoretical understanding with practical applications. By adopting the SIMIODE textbook and introducing three projects—modeling, communication, and numerical methods—we incorporated engaging, project-based activities into the more traditional lecture environment. Our new assessment structure, balancing three tests with three projects, has been successful with mathematics, physics, and education majors, preparing them not just to solve differential equations, but to apply and teach mathematics effectively and confidently.