tandfonline.com – Mathematics Practicum at St. Olaf College: Project-Based Learning through Academic Civic Engagement

Abstract

The Mathematics Practicum has been offered at St. Olaf College for over 30 years. The Practicum is a 4-week, January Interim course where three teams of five students work on consulting problems solicited from area businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. These problems have significant mathematical, statistical, and computational components. The projects end with a professional-quality student presentation at the client’s home office. This project-based, interdisciplinary, experience encourages problem solving, collaboration, inquiry, and communication skills. We discuss the logistics of the course, key factors that make this a positive experience for both the students and the sponsoring organizations, continuing challenges, and benefits to the students.