Peer Review

Manipula Math with Java

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Apr 17, 2003 by Mathematics

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This site is the parent site for a collection of Java Applets in topics from geometry, trigonometry, precalculus and calculus.

Please see the related reviews of the main href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=3000000000000000348">class=SpellE>Manipula Math with Java site, as well as the following
sub-sites:

href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=3000000000000000349"> class=SpellE>Manipula Math - Calculus
href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=1010000000000085651"> class=SpellE>Manipula Math - Conics
href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=1010000000000085670"> class=SpellE>Manipula Math - Middle School (Geometry)
href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=3000000000000000351"> class=SpellE>Manipula Math - Geometry I
href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=3000000000000000352"> class=SpellE>Manipula Math - Geometry II
href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=3000000000000000350"> class=SpellE>Manipula Math - Trigonometry
href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=1010000000000073413"> class=SpellE>Manipula Math - Vectors
href="http://www.merlot.org/artifact/ArtifactDetail.po?discipline=Mathematics&oid=1010000000000085655"> class=SpellE>Manipula Math - Complex Numbers

Type of Material:

Simulation and animation.

Recommended Uses:

These applets could be used as classroom demonstration tools or as aids to students problem solving on homework assignments.

Technical Requirements:

Requires a "Java-enabled" browser.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The JAVA applets are designed to allow the user to explore various concepts and applications in geometry, trigonometry, precalculus and calculus.

Target Student Population:

Students in a geometry, trigonometry, precalculus or calculus.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

The applets are self-explanatory for students in the appropriate course.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The overall content quality of applets on the Manipula Math site is very good. Please see the reviews of the individual applet categories listed above for more details.
Concerns:: There are some grammatical errors in the applets. In general, these errors are obvious and do not significantly hinder the effectiveness of the applets.

Any additional concerns are noted in the individual reviews.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: This site provides a truly excellent teaching tool. The modules are easy to use, have a standard interface, and most come with an explanation section.
Concerns:: Any concerns are noted in the individual reviews.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: Most of the applets have controls that are easy to use, clearly labeled, and self-explanatory in function. Hence, the operation of the applets is fairly intuitive. A short explanation section is always found at the beginning of the more complex applets. Available options give the user good control over the appearance of the graphical output of the modules.

A single user license is available for use offline. Network/site licenses are available for schools, teachers, and researchers. These licenses allow the purchaser to place the applets on home pages and to make changes to the applets by editing the HTML files. The license may be purchased for each of the Trigonometry, Vector, Calculus, Geometry I, Geometry II applets, or for the entire Manipula Math Applet Collections.
Concerns:: Any concerns are noted in the individual reviews.

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