A selection of graphics, mostly static figures but with some animations, illustrating basic calculus concepts. One of the items in this collection, How the ball bounces, has been reviewed separately. Also of interest may be the review of the related site Graphics for Complex Analysis by the same author.
Type of Material:
The static figures are GIF files; the animations are all available either as animated GIFs or as Java applets.
Recommended Uses:
It can be used to enhance lectures in first and second semester calculus courses. It could also be a useful supplement to the textbook for students in such classes.
Technical Requirements:
Any web browser. (To use the Java versions of the animations, Java must be supported.)
Identify Major Learning Goals:
It can be used to enhance lectures in first and second semester calculus courses. It could also be a useful supplement to the textbook for students in such classes.
Target Student Population:
Students in the first year of calculus.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
If the graphics are used as intended for demonstration in a classroom, any qualified instructor will have the necessary prerequisite skills. Many of the graphics are presented with very little explanation, so previous exposure to the concepts, either in a lecture or through a text, would be necessary if a student were to use them for independent study.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The graphics are simple but clear.
Concerns:
The static figures are often not essentially different from what can be found in any calculus text. While it may be useful to have them available online (for demonstration purposes in a computer lab, for example) they do not really add anything to a traditional presentation.
The Java versions of the applets allow for some minimal user interaction, such as varying the speed of the animation or zooming in or out. (The animated GIFs do not allow even this.) It would be nice, for example, in the animation showing the approach of secant lines to a tangent line, if the user were allowed to vary the function being used.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Each item on the site illustrates its point clearly. Together, they could provide an interesting supplement to calculus lectures.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The site is simply organised, with clear instructions. The user need in fact never do anything more than click the mouse.
Concerns:
More than once, a Java animation froze one reviewer's browser. The problem seems to be known to the author, because a note on the main page suggests that if this happens, the user should use the animated GIF versions. Unfortunately, as noted above, these are non-interactive.
Creative Commons:
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