This extensive site was designed originally to help instructors use technology to teach calculus. It was later expanded to include numerous tutorials and other interactive modules for student use. The topics covered are those normally found in Pre-Calculus and single variable differential and integral calculus. The tutorials/modules employ a wide range of computer programs, including: Macromedia Flash, LiveMath, Java, IBM TechExplorer, as well as some lesser known programs, such as MPP (a plotting program.) Most of these programs, both stand-alone and plug-in types, are free downloads. The site provides numerous examples with detailed instructions for using the TI-85 and -86 graphing calculators, as well as for using the computer algebra systems Maple and Derive. Along with the tutorials, many topics also include practice exercises or quizzes with solutions.
Type of Material:
Collection of tutorials.
Recommended Uses:
Student tutorial resource, drill and practice, and classroom demonstrations.
Technical Requirements:
Minimally, this site requires a Java-enabled browser, preferably Netscape, and browser plug-ins for LiveMath and Macromedia Flash. Other computer programs are referenced and employed, but they are mostly optional.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
This site will be most useful for students seeking additional instruction in the topics covered. This instruction comes in many forms: text, graphics, interactive visualizations, practice exercises with solutions, etc. Use of this site for classroom demonstrations would also be highly appropriate.
Target Student Population:
Students taking a course in pre-calculus or single variable calculus.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
This site assumes only that students are competent in college algebra.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This site contains a wealth of tutorials, demonstrations, drill exercises, and quizzes illustrating both theory and problems from pre-calculus through first-year calculus. The presentation is consistently well thought-out with concise, accurate, and clear explanations. The graphics and interactive components employing LiveMath, Macromedia Flash, and Java applets are particularly well done and engaging. Also, users of TI graphing calculators, Maple, or Derive (and some other lesser-known programs) will find, scattered throughout the site, detailed examples illustrating the use of these tools.
Concerns:
The only (minor) reservation is that there is some inconsistency in terms either of the thoroughness of the coverage or in the types of learning modules employed. For example, ?Derivatives and Graphing? gets text-based tutorials, interactive LiveMath notebooks, quizzes, several computer program illustrations, and more, while ?Optimization Problems? gets only four Java applet illustrated solutions.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
This is a well-designed, mathematically engaging, technologically dependable (see concerns under ?Ease of Use?) tutorial/demonstration site that should be useful as a complement to traditional courses in pre-calculus and single variable calculus. The animated introductions to many topics give a dynamic presentation of the content that is not possible with a blackboard or a text. The many drill exercises and quizzes, which are always accompanied by detailed solutions, should significantly benefit students wanting additional practice in the subject matter.
Concerns:
none
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
This learning resource is quite navigable, and the computer programs employed are accessible and dependable (see below). The discussions of material and solutions of problems are presented with clarity and thoroughness. Macromedia Flash,
Java applets, and LiveMath notebooks/animations are used extensively to make the text-based tutorials more dynamic and engaging, a feature that should appeal particularly to students.
Concerns:
The LiveMath and Macromedia Flash plug-ins install readily and reliably. However, one reviewer found that the LiveMath notebooks did not work at all in Internet Explorer 6.0, whereas they worked well in Netscape 7.2. This site is so extensive that it would benefit from a more detailed index or even an on-site search utility. For example, an index of calculator illustrations or an index of LiveMath notebooks would be useful. Some of the computer program illustrations are a bit dated in that they refer to older versions of the software. In the animation of the ?moving a ladder around the corner? problem, the ladder was not always visible during the animation.
Other Issues and Comments:
Both reviewers plan to use this site in their teaching
Creative Commons:
Search by ISBN?
It looks like you have entered an ISBN number. Would you like to search using what you have
entered as an ISBN number?
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
