Introduction to the Special Issue: Project-Based Curriculum

Abstract

Ideally, students of mathematics gain much from their coursework and undergraduate careers. If we (teachers and professors) do our jobs right, then math majors and minors should, among other achievements, gain the ability to apply their mathematical knowledge to other disciplines and real-world problems. Project-based learning offers one way to achieve this goal, as it encourages students to solve interdisciplinary problems that arise outside of the traditional classroom. Project-based learning can be implemented as part of a class or as an enrichment program, and it typically features problems arising from a variety of sources (including social concerns of different communities, demands from business and industry, and non-profit or government organizations). In this special issue on Project-Based Curricula, we present six papers that address different aspects of project-based learning, including how it can be facilitated, ideas for projects, and evidence of its effectiveness.