This article will discuss activities and assignments created for a linear algebra course that aim to excite students about learning the course content. The linear algebra course taught at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire covers linear algebra, its applications, and serves as the introduction to proofs course. Students often become overwhelmed with all the content and proof techniques in this course. This leads to them not enjoying, nor engaging in, what they are learning and they become discouraged with the material. Throughout the semester, interactive projects are introduced which cover applications of the course content. These activities center around the idea that the students have been recruited to work with the “Zombie Containment Task Force” under the supervision of Agent Frank Larson. Throughout the semester, students must complete several missions to uncover secrets about the workings of the task force, discover knowledge about zombies, and reveal double agents. At the end of the semester, students use clues given throughout the semester to make a final decision which informs them of their future in this fictional world. This article will give the outline of five interconnected projects that are used in the course as well as discuss the implementation of these missions.

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   How awesome is it to have multiple, creative math and zombie products?

I would like to thank Cindy Albert from the UWEC’s CETL office for all the useful teaching conversations and resources we have shared throughout the years that have helped create these projects. Also, I would like to thank the UWEC’s Mathematics Department for giving me the flexibility in my courses to try these projects and the resources (office supplies, flash drives, etc.) that have helped make these projects a little extra special. Finally, I would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Christopher Davis for all of his time listening to zombie lore and linear algebra ideas.

Authors and Affiliations

1. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI, USA

   Carolyn Otto

Corresponding author

Correspondence toCarolyn Otto.

Editors and Affiliations

1. Science Writing Advanced Academic Program, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

   Susan D'Agostino

2. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, USA

   Sarah Bryant

3. Department of Mathematics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

   Amy Buchmann

4. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Belmont University, Nashville, TN, USA

   Michelle Craddock Guinn

5. Division of Sciences and Mathematics, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, USA

   Leona Harris

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