New
technology can help faculty members improve the way they present concepts
and the way in which students assimilate material. In searching for a
dynamic method for teaching sensitivity analysis within a Linear Programming
module to her undergraduate students, Dr. Chris Kydd, Business and Economics,
contacted UD's Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center—PRESENT—for
help in developing a web-based tool for presenting linear programming
materials.
"Initially,
I was searching for a better way to present sensitivity analysis, but
was unable to find anything interactive, so I initiated this project
with the staff of PRESENT," says Kydd.
The Result: Version 2 of the web-based Java applet
now provides Kydd and the other operations faculty with an improved
method of conveying this information in the classroom. To understand
sensitivity analysis, students must clearly see how changes in the equations
of the problem alter the graphical presentation of the solution. According
to Kydd, the applet allows her to effectively demonstrate these concepts.
"Once
the applet was complete, I found it was useful for several other teaching
goals in addition to its originally intended purpose, including showing
the feasible space of the initial solution, determining the optimal
solution from the graph, and showing how the optimal solution changes."
This is frequently
difficult with traditional static materials such as overhead transparencies.
Because this applet is available on the web, students have access to
it outside the classroom.
Last fall,
Kydd used the applet to teach two sections of students the concepts.
During that same semester, instructor Vivian Bennett-Fresco taught the
same material using overhead transparencies.
"We
asked all of the students in all sections the same exam question regarding
sensitivity analysis. The students using the applet performed better
on that question," says Kydd. "I definitely believe that the
applet helps the students to understand better what's going on in the
typical LP graphical solution."
Chris Kydd