Matthew Boelkins

Active Calculus: Single Variable (2nd Ed) is an open-source textbook that is available free in HTML and PDF, as well as in this low-cost print version. The style of the text requires students to be active learners: there are very few worked examples in the text, with instead 3-4 activities per section that engage students in connecting ideas, solving problems, and developing understanding of fundamental calculus ideas. Each section begins with a brief introduction and a preview activity designed to be completed before class; each section concludes (in HTML) with live anonymous WeBWorK exercises for immediate feedback, followed by a few challenging non-WeBWorK exercises. The text is suitable for a 2-semester course in single variable calculus, and there's a Spanish translation of the 1st edition. The author maintains a large repository of available-upon-request ancillary materials including sample syllabi and course calendars, additional WeBWorK exercises, supplementary written homework exercises, laboratory activities, weekly quizzes, and final exams. There is also a large instructor user community that is connected through an online Google group. Learn more at activecalculus.org.

Active Calculus - single variable is a free, open-source calculus text that is designed to support an active learning approach in the standard first two semesters of calculus, including approximately 200 activities and 500 exercises. In the HTML version, more than 250 of the exercises are available as interactive WeBWorK exercises; students will love that the online version even looks great on a smart phone. Each section of Active Calculus has at least 4 in-class activities to engage students in active learning. Normally, each section has a brief introduction together with a preview activity, followed by a mix of exposition and several more activities. Each section concludes with a short summary and exercises; the non-WeBWorK exercises are typically involved and challenging. More information on the goals and structure of the text can be found in the preface.

Active Calculus is different from most existing texts in that: the text is free to read online in .html or via download by users in .pdf format; in the electronic format, graphics are in full color and there are live .html links to java applets; the text is open source, so interested instructor can gain access to the original source files via GitHub; the style of the text requires students to be active learners ... there are very few worked examples in the text, with there instead being 3-4 activities per section that engage students in connecting ideas, solving problems, and developing understanding of key calculus ideas; each section begins with motivating questions, a brief introduction, and a preview activity; each section concludes (in .html) with live WeBWorK exercises for immediate feedback, followed by a few challenging problems.