The following learning objectives were developed by the faculty committee that oversees the Quantitative Reasoning Flag. Although it is not required that every Quantitative Reasoning course meets every objective, the committee hopes that many Quantitative Reasoning courses will strive to do so.
Students should be taught to do the following to make sense of and gain a deeper understanding of the real world:
- Interpretation: Students will explain quantitative information presented in multiple forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words)
- Representation: Students will convert quantitative information into multiple forms (e.g., equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, words)
- Calculation: Students will demonstrate fluency in the mechanics and language or symbolism necessary to manipulate numerical or non-numerical information to solve a problem
- Application & Analysis: Students will make judgments and draw conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data (numerical or non-numerical)
- Assumptions & Limitations: Students will identify assumptions underlying their models and analyses, and evaluate how their results and outcomes may be affected
- Communication: Students will express quantitative evidence in support of an argument or in justifying their work, including formatting, presenting, and contextualizing the evidence used