This is the summary of a presentation given at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, January 10-13, 1996, Orlando, Florida.

Students in the University of Redlands' one-semester sophomore-level linear algebra course meet in a computer classroom/laboratory, where they use MATLAB virtually every class day for computations, for formulating and testing conjectures, and for more formal in-class assignments. The students use MATLAB for almost every homework assignment from their textbook as well, mainly for computations and for checking answers, but also to explore and conjecture, and to investigate applications. In fact, students present applications of linear algebra to their classmates in groups of two or three students each. Nevertheless, we cover the traditional vector space topics, emphasizing understanding of the geometry underlying the concepts, of the techniques associated with the concepts, and of mathematical theorems and proofs, and our course serves as a transition course for students progressing from calculus to upper division mathematics courses. We describe our course, giving specific examples of computer activities and assignments and of applications of linear algebra presented by groups of students.

See also Linear Algebra Course Information from University of Redlands.

Janet L. Beery and Alexander Koonce
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA 92373