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The Concord Consortium
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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Mar 17, 2007 by Mathematics |
| Overview: |
Seeing Math™ has developed interactive software tools to clarify key mathematical ideas in middle and high school mathematics. Each interactive provides a real-time connection between representations of the mathematics (symbolic, graphical, etc.), so that changes in one representation instantly cause changes in the other. The eight applets include: Qualitative Grapher, Piecewise Linear Grapher, Linear Transformer, Function Analyzer, Quadratic Transformer, System Solver, Plop It!, and Proportioner. |
| Learning Goals: |
To illustrate and reinforce key mathematical ideas for teachers and students of algebra. To accelerate learning and enhance comprehension of difficult concepts. |
| Target Student Population: |
Middle school and high school students; beginning college students can also benefit |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
General knowledge of functions, equations, and graphs; mean, median and mode |
| Type of Material: |
Interactive Java applet |
| Recommended Uses: |
Classroom demo; student exploration or enrichment |
| Technical Requirements: |
Java-enabled Web browser |
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| Strengths: |
The applets are well-designed and implemented. Each includes a detailed Sample Activity, and all but the Quantitative Grapher include a User Guide and a sample Warm Up activity. Some also include a section on Frequently Asked Questions. |
| Concerns: |
None |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:    |
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| Strengths: |
The materials are well-written and the applets are effective. As noted by the authors, the applets are designed to illustrate and reinforce key mathematical ideas for teachers and students of algebra. Seeing immediate feedback to changes in parameters is most informative and can easily be related to textbook and/or classroom presentations. The Linear and Quadratic Transformers, in particular, allows students to analyze the nature of their respective functions. A nice feature is that they allow linear and quadratic functions to be entered and manipulated in multiple forms (e.g., polynomial, vertex, and root forms for a quadratic functions). Plop It! provides a nice analysis of mean, median and mode. The Warm Ups and Sample Activities are quite extensive and provide ready-to-use examples for both teachers and students. |
| Concerns: |
The System Solver and Proportioner applets are somewhat complicated and their goals and effectiveness are not immediately obvious from the applet interface; their user guides are necessary in order to make effective use of the applets. |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
| Rating: |
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| Strengths: |
The applets may be downloaded for use offline.
The User Guides open in new windows and are thus easy to use while running the interactive applets.
The FAQ sections are designed to address known issues in usage.
No technical difficulties were encountered in the use of this site |
| Concerns: |
Some of the applets are a bit complicated and their interfaces are not immediately obvious (viz., System Solver and Proportioner); however, the user guides are thorough and complete. |
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