isconsin merging cholars (WES) A Great Way to Learn Calculus

Welcome to the WES program homepage! WES Coordinator: Dr. Concha Gómez Office Location: 423 Van Vleck Email: gomez@math.wisc.edu Phone: (608) 263-2875 Fax: (608) 263-8891 Basic information about the WES program: What is WES? WES Sections for Fall 2008 Students' reactions to WES How to enroll WES Photo Gallery More Information: To the Student Working in a Group Events Advice for Calculus Students by Alec Johnson Calculus and Community: History of the Emerging Scholars Program (2001 report of the National Task Force on Minority High Achievement) For TAs

What is WES?

WES sections are discussion sections attached to a large calculus lecture, but the WES section meets for more hours per week than do the regular discussion sections. A WES discussion section is generally more diverse than a regular section, and students work in small groups on challenging problems designed to foster high levels of understanding and interest. The class is led by a Teaching Assistant (TA) who has exhibited a passion for teaching; often the WES TAs receive awards recognizing their outstanding teaching abilities. The WES students also receive help and encouragement from undergraduate Student Assistants; typically a Student Assistant (SA) is a former WES student.

WES students form bonds with each other, and with the TA and SA, and this provides many different sources of techniques for solving difficult problems. It also keeps enthusiasm high, which is necessary since the class requires time and effort. WES students do earn one or two extra credits (these are non-graded credits) in addition to the graded credits of calculus. There are also optional extra-curricular activities offered.

The WES section takes the same exams as everyone else in the lecture; thus, the WES section is covering standard calculus material at a standard pace. The difference is that the WES students spend more time on more difficult aspects of the topics covered. Consequently, the grades of the WES section are often the highest for the lecture, and often much higher than the lecture average. In the Spring of 2001, for example, WES sections reported GPAs of: 3.09, 3.29, 3.33, and 3.72.

For students' views of WES, see Students' reactions to WES.

For more information on the history of Emerging Scholars programs, read Calculus and Community: A History of the Emerging Scholars Program (2001 report of the National Task Force on Minority High Achievement).

Information given to all WES students on the first day of class:

• To the Student
• Working in a Group

How to enroll

Students wishing to enroll in a WES section of calculus should have an interest in math and its applications and be willing to work with other students on some of the challenging problems the course presents. Students must be authorized to register for the WES section.

• New UW Madison students not yet on campus should visit the Math Consultant table at SOAR or send email to wes@math.wisc.edu.
• Continuing UW Madison students should fill out one of the forms below.
  • WES Application/Information Form (Microsoft Word fill-in form: fill out online and email to gomez@math.wisc.edu), or
  • WES Application/Information Form (pdf file: print out, and return completed form to Dr. Concha Gomez's mailbox on the 2nd floor of Van Vleck Hall).

All students should check the listing of Current WES Sections for updated information concerning open WES sections.

For more information about WES please contact Dr. Concha Gomez at 263-2875 or gomez@math.wisc.edu, or stop by room 423 Van Vleck.

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Page last updated June 9, 2008
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