The problems we solved . . . apply to our classes and to our lives. I learned 10 times more than I would've in [a traditional calculus class] . I actually feel smart. Because we do everything by computer, we are forced to know why we do what we do. The style and the types of questions are things we can relate to and picture. I personally learn more when I understand and am interested... I gotta tell you, this is the most fun I have ever had in a math class. Seriously.
When I originally signed up to take C&M BioCalc for my freshman calculus course, my older brother tried to talk me out of it. He told me that I wouldn't learn anything, and that I would have trouble later on in my engineering classes. Out of stubbornness, I stuck with it. This past year, my brother came to me to ask my help. One of his mechanical engineering classes was filled with Calculus III material and he was having trouble. After I helped him, he said to me, "I wish I had taken a C&M course. I probably still would have forgotten all of the formulas, but at least I would know how to go about getting the answer."
Techs support both the lab machines and the software used in this program.
In the event of a problem, send an e-mail to tech@cm.math.uiuc.edu.