Honors Calc 160's IBL vs. Regular?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

Hello, incoming first year here! Any thoughts or recommendations about choosing which honors calc class to take (ie regular lecture style vs inquiry based learning)? IBL sounds like a cool experience but I’ve heard lots of horror stories…Is one significantly harder than the other?

Thanks!

2

From what I can tell -

Regular pros:
-cover more topics
-see how proofs should be done
-get to read Spivak
-less work
-real tests, do not have to talk in front of people

Regular cons:
-don’t do nearly as many proofs
-less useful for analysis (IBL kids cover the start of analysis)
-less work
-real tests

IBL is analogous.

There are ardent supports of both sides, in the end it’s a matter of personal preference. You can’t go wrong either way. I loooved my regular prof and had a great time, some people didn’t. Some people loved IBL and had a great time, some didn’t.

3

As the mom of a math major, this is what I gather from my son who took H IBL:

If you don’t have a strong background in proofs and hope to take Honors Analysis as a sophomore, IBL is very helpful as it serves as a proof boot camp of sorts. IBL is a lot of work at times and active participation in the class is a must including, as Hyde Snark pointed out, talking in front of people. The downside is that the pace is very different and the class does not cover as many topics as the regular honors sequence.

Borrowing the format from @HydeSnark, from what I can tell:

IBL pros:

  • you will do a lot of proofs and hopefully become more comfortable and proficient at writing them
  • you will go into great depth with topics
  • excellent preparation for Honors Analysis. Great for first years who didn’t place into H analysis but hope to take it as second years (even those who place into 15910 - Intro to Proofs in Analysis - as honors calc is a pre-req to take H analysis in your 2nd year).
  • great for students with strong calc background but not a strong proof writing background
  • lots of class participation. Good opportunity to refine skills for speaking in front of people.
  • tends to be very collaborative

IBL cons:

  • you will do a lot of proofs!
  • not as many topics covered as non IBL sections
  • no Spivak (although many students purchase and read it)
  • a lot of work at times
  • speaking in front of people
  • it will be very obvious if you don’t do your homework