Technology-oriented Pre-Calculus: Developing integrated path toward student success in STEM pre-gateway course

Research on learning in STEM disciplines suggests that students' problem solving ability comes from the creation of increasingly complex connections among diverse learning sources. This paper revisits the notion of integration in teaching and learning in a broad sense, discusses integration of various strategies to enhance learning, engagement, and success of students taking STEM pre-gateway course, Pre-Calculus, at a two-year minority serving college. It is emphasized that integrative learning, as an active student-centered process, is intertwined with an integrated approach to instruction. Several practices in teaching technology- oriented and applied project-based pre-calculus that resulted in improved student performance, engagement, and self-confidence are discussed. The paper calls for integration of effective approaches in one integral system, raises questions about optimal combination of working strategies, and, among other things, contributes to nowadays deficient empirical study of integration. Development of a particular integrated path toward students' success in freshmen math pre-gateway to STEM is described. Experiences and outcomes are shared.