Modified Moore Method in Calculus

Michel Smith
Auburn University

This talk reviews how one begins a Modified Moore Method Calculus class. The first day of class is presented in the form of a Socratic dialogue. The instructor together with the students, in a question and answer format, solve a single “speed” problem: given the distance that a car travels in terms of time, then how fast is it going at some specific time. By the third or fourth day students are calculating derivatives of polynomials and square roots by a process equivalent to the limit definition of the derivative using techniques similar to those used in standard calculus texts. Their solutions are presented in class.