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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Aug 10, 2003 by Teacher Education |
| Overview: |
The World of Math Online provides numerous tools for students, parents,
and teachers to learn about a variety of math subject areas including algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus. This website offers
exploratory and recreational introductions to the world of math that will lead
to deeper understanding and enjoyment.
Math.com is a Web site that combines math and technology. This site provides an
interesting array of avenues to learn and extend knowledge in mathematics.
The
site has the means of providing all needed levels of math along with the
appropriate challenges for students. It provides a variety of means to
revisit
needed math skills.
This is commercial website developed by Math.com. Information is also provided
for a range of services, products, and solutions by Math.com, a division of
Encore Software, Inc.
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| Learning Goals: |
The major learning goal of the World of Math Online website is that students,
teachers, and parents will gain a basic math foundation that will assist them in
a deeper understanding of mathematics.
Students, teachers, and parents of grade school through collegiate level can
access online mathematics materials,
information, and manipulatives to
enable the building of mathematics skills. It easily allows the application of
mathematic skills learned and skills can be revisited if needed.
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| Target Student Population: |
The World of Math Online website is designed for students, teachers, and
parents. The levels for students could include middle school, high school, and
college. This website could be helpful to elementary, middle, and high school
teachers. The World of Math Online website could be a resource for college
instructors of mathematics and teacher education mathematics method instructors.
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| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
A basic foundation in computer skills and math skills would be helpful.
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| Type of Material: |
The World of Math Online site is supported by advertisements and sponsors.
Learning and practicing mathematic skills is available along with application of
knowledge through problems and games. The site includes math definitions,
examples, practice problems, glossary, references, study tips, lesson plans, and
worksheets.
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| Recommended Uses: |
The World of Math Online website could be used as a resource site for
mathematics teachers and a learning site for students at all levels.
This website could also be used in higher education as a resource and as a model
of teaching strategies for mathematic method courses for elementary, middle,
and high school level student teachers.
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| Technical Requirements: |
Internet connection and browser (works well with Explorer and Netscape Web
browsers).
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| Strengths: |
The World of Math Online website is a portal for all mathematical skills. It
provides a creative and supportive place that not only introduces math skills,
but also reinforces and extends. This site includes easy-to-follow explanations
and examples of various levels of math subject areas. Each of the math subject
areas begins a basic definition and continues with examples and information to
build knowledge for understanding.
The website provides practice problems with hints and also tells the student if
the answers are correct. It provides both serious and fun avenues for applying
math skills learned.
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| Concerns: |
None
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:    |
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| Strengths: |
The World of Math Online is a resource website with basic math information,
hands-on practice problems, references, and glossary. There is a special
section for teachers and parents to assist students with mathematics. This
website could be a useful tool for a variety of levels of math because the math
subject areas cover elementary to college levels of mathematics.
This site can be used as an introduction for math skills, an avenue of
revisitation of math skills for all level of students (especially special
needs
and Spanish ESL students), and even a site for self-assessment. At all
levels,
the site provides immediate feedback on all attempts along with avenues to
revisit creation of mathematic skills needed for application. There are
exploratory and recreational levels for most math skills. Math.com is easy
to
navigate and provides different ways to learn, improve, and practice math
skills
learned. It does not require extensive knowledge of Internet navigation to
use
the site. It also can be found in a Spanish version.
Mathematic teachers from the elementary level through the college level could
implement and adapt the lesson plans,
worksheets, and resources to their grade
level. Higher education mathematic method faculty could present the website as
a resource for their preservice teachers to use during their practicum and
student teaching.
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| Concerns: |
This site does a great job of offering math skills but does present the
possibility of use by educators as drill and practice. It is both
educational and enjoyable but can become a ?chore? for struggling readers and
mathematics students if the educator does not stay aware of the student?s level
of support and monitoring needed.
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
The site can be easily navigated by both the novice and experienced Internet
user. The directions are comprehensible and consistent. Each unit has clear
means of movement through and out of each activity. Very little instruction
needs to accompany use of this site by either student or parent. This site
can be used with ease by student, parent, and educator.
The users have a variety of resources available if needed while working with the
website. These resources include links to hints, glossary, math tools, and
references.
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| Concerns: |
The Ask the Expert link did not connect. There was also an abundance of
advertising on the site. These advertisements are easily accessed by student and
naive parents, asking for personal information and details that are not
conducive to Internet safety.
There were some ?FREE? notices that lead to the option of purchasing.
Educators and parents alike should be aware of these and monitor site usage
accordingly.
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
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