SIGMAA IBL October Watch Party: Hands-on classroom activities using 3D models and visualization for multivariable calculus
Event starts on this day
Oct
23
2026
Featured Speaker(s):
Shelby Stanhope
Event starts on this day
Oct
23
2026
SIGMAA IBL October Watch Party: Hands-on classroom activities using 3D models and visualization for multivariable calculus
Description
| Students often find the transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional thinking in multivariable calculus challenging. Computer visualization and tactile models can help bridge this gap and deepen students’ spatial understanding of concepts. CalcPlot3D is a free, web-based applet for 3D graphing that is easy for students and instructors to use due to its code-free, menu-driven interface with fillable textboxes, dropdown lists, and checkboxes. In this presentation, I will show demonstrations that instructors can use to illuminate concepts and visualizations that students can easily create themselves. In addition, I will discuss several classroom activities that incorporate 3D-printed models, allowing students to physically explore concepts in small groups. Together, these tools provide engaging ways for instructors to support student learning and help cultivate stronger geometric intuition in multivariable calculus. Speaker Bio: Shelby Stanhope is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she has taught since 2018. Her primary work focuses on multivariable calculus instruction, where she aims to support students’ spatial understanding of concepts using computer visualization and classroom activities with 3D models. Her work in this area has been supported by two NSF grants, and her innovative teaching was recognized with the MAA’s Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty in 2024. She enjoys collaborating with fellow educators to continually improve teaching and learning in undergraduate mathematics. |