Abstract - Diversity in mathematical preparation is common in quantitative geoscience courses, such as geophysics and hydrology. One way to handle this diversity is to design a sequence of homework assignments in which the mathematical difficulty increases progressively ("stepped homework"). The sequence of assignments for a typical quantitative course should include the following steps: 1) "plug-ins," 2) algebraic manipulation, 3) graphing, 4) trigonometry and logarithms, 5) multistep problems, and 6) calculus and computer spreadsheets. Examples of problems from an introductory geophysics course are provided for each step. To be effective, this sequence must be coupled with ample opportunity for students who have difficulty to obtain assistance. Possible sources of assistance include tutoring by the instructor, working in a recitation section, and tutoring by peers. In a geophysics course that begins with seismology, a stepped homework sequence can be essentially completed by the end of that unit, leaving the students better prepared for success in the remainder of the course.
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