This site provides an extremely large collection of material related to mathematics; in fact, it claims to be the world's most extensive collection of educational and reference material on math. The site has won many web awards. It contains both encyclopedia-type reference material and animated/interactive material. It includes many opportunities for interaction and feedback to the author. Pages can be accessed by alphabetical listing, by a full-text search feature, or through a well-conceived subject categorization scheme with extensive cross links.
Please see the related reviews of the href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/PeerReviewDetail.po?rOid=1010000000000059482">World of Mathematics-Animations and Interactive Applets subsite, the href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/PeerReviewDetail.po?rOid=1010000000000059486">World of Mathematics-Probability and Statistics subsite, and the href="http://www.merlot.org/./artifact/PeerReviewDetail.po?prOid=1010000000000059490">World of Mathematics-Recreational Mathematics subsite.
Type of Material:
Reference material, interactive material and many cross-links.
Recommended Uses:
The site can serve as an encyclopedic reference or as a source of classroom enrichment activities.
Technical Requirements:
Basic browser. Java-enabled browsers will be able to use LiveGraphics3D applets; those that are not will display static images. Animations are animated GIF?s and do not use Java.Much of the material is powered by "LiveGraphics3D" which produces images similar to those in Mathematica; no special user action is required.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
To provide reference material in a brief encyclopedia style on an extraordinarily large range of topics.
To provide opportunities for visual experimentation with animated GIFs and applets.
Target Student Population:
Math students and professionals at a wide variety of levels, particularly those interested in animations and visual interactions; much of the material is at the advanced level.Faculty members looking for classroom enrichment materials at a wide variety of levels
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Material is available for a wide range of user skill levels, depending on the attention paid to equations and reference links. Again, much of the material is pertinent to undergraduate and graduate math majors.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The quantity of material available is impressive - over 10, 000 reference entries, 100 animated GIFs and 900 Java applets. The main page is organized into eleven main areas, each with sub-areas: Algebra, Applied Mathematics, Calculus and Analysis, Discrete Math, Foundations of Mathematics, Geometry, History and Terminology, Number Theory, Probability and Statistics, Recreational Math, and Topology. The descriptive items include many references to both printed and electronic resources. Extensive cross-linking among pages makes it easy to thoroughly investigate a given topic and its related supporting topics and definitions. There is also a solution section and a resource section for users of Mathematica. Many of the entries exhibit equations and/or diagrams in Mathematica style.
Concerns:
Much of the material is subject to copyright and until recently was unavailable owing to a dispute between the author and CRC press. There are commercial links to Amazon.com and Wolfram Research for those who want them.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The majority of the pages on this site function as excellent reference material; some of the animations and java applets are usable in a classroom setting. Mathematics majors and students taking internet-delivered mathematics courses should be made aware of its existence early on in their studies and encouraged to visit it. The main page encourages participation and return visits with "Mathworld Headline News" items, both a "What's New" and "What's Changed" feature, a guest book, and an invitation to e-mail comments or to contribute material.
Concerns:
Like other large sites such as Math Forum, this site features such a broad range of material that casual users may be discouraged. Some of the entries are a bit terse in traditional encyclopedia style and therefore lack specific formulas or application examples.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
There is a wide variety of effective ways to locate material. The main page features a search engine and indices by subject and alphabetical order.The main page also includes a "what's new" area organized by date. A sensible categorization scheme and extensive cross-linking of topics and definitions makes researching a topic relatively easy ? particularly for the more advanced or experienced user.
Concerns:
Like other large sites such as Math Forum, this site features such a broad range of material and levels that casual users may be discouraged. The sheer volume of material could be overwhelming to the new or casual user and perhaps make it difficult for them to locate suitable material or even relocate material already discovered.
Creative Commons:
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