This repository is conceived as a way to bring computational exploration to a wide audience It contains an open-code resource that uses dynamic computation to illuminate concepts in science, technology, mathematics, art, finance, and a remarkable range of other fields. Its collection of interactive illustrations is created by Mathematica users.
Type of Material:
Repository of links to visual, animated, calculus oriented content with descriptions of each site.
Recommended Uses:
classroom demos, student exploration
Technical Requirements:
A copy of the free Mathematica Player or Mathematica
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Learning goals vary, but are linkedto instruction and individual exploration. Some Demonstrations are meant to enliven a classroom or visualize tough concepts.
Target Student Population:
Students in a high school or college level calculus class.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
As this is a repository site, the knowledge base varies. However, along with basic fundamental mathematics skills, an introductory knowledge of pre-calculus and calculus is required.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The site contains a vast array of material for the calculus teacher. The links go to demonstrations which are played via the free Mathematica Player (downloadable from Wolfram.com). Each animated demonstration is focused on a single concept and is intuitive in its execution. As the content for this site is created by users of the software (and evaluated by Wolfram.com personnel), it is a site that is growing in nature and there are new visualizations posted often.
Concerns:
The list of possible sites, while not exhaustive, is still intimidating. There are a
large number of demonstrations displayed on one page. This can be daunting if the teacher/learner does not have a specific learning goal in mind. The site is nested in the Wolfram website which can be confusing. It is too easy to leave this repository accidentally.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
This repository contains links to many differing visualizations for the content area of calculus. The variety of approach and topic lends itself to many and varied applications for the teacher/learner. The teacher could send this link to parents and students of their classes, or pull specific sites from the repository for specific learning objectives. Most often, the teacher may use these animations to under pin a specific content for a specific content area.
Concerns:
The vast quantity displayed all at once can be overwhelming. Also, each animation is limited in their input ability. Set function types are given and editing of these is either too complicated (requiring Mathematica 6.0+ and a knowledge of that software) or simply cannot be accomplished.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The layout is clear and easy to follow. The links displayed are current and live.
The varied topics are organized for quick viewing. The descriptions are clear and concise.
The no frills approach is well done and does not distract from the goal of connecting the
teacher/learner to effective mathematics-learning sites. The topic search is made easy if the
teacher/learner is searching for a specific learning objective to be met. A date is provided that states the date of submission or posting.
Concerns:
The content for this repository relies on the free submission of current users of the Mathematica software and maintenance by the Wolfram.com staff. Thus the future of this repository is depending on such as well.
Creative Commons:
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