During June, 2003, I spent some time surfing the Internet. The results
are below.
Menus: Click to expand.Click to collapse. This page requires Internet Explorer. All pages, though, take you away from the SCC website.
Instant Math
Mathematics
help central graph paper: Instant graph paper. Might I also recommend
that you download the ‘graph paper printer program’ at the bottom of the
page. Make whatever form you need and copy/paste it into your document.
Curve
fitting applet: This is a nice in-browser applet that allows input of
(x,y) data and simultaneously fits linear, exponential, and logarithmic
models.
Quickmath: Have a problem
requiring a computer algebra system? Don’t have ready access to Maple or
Mathematica? This web site acts as an interface to a behind-the-scenes
mathematica engine. Select the type of operation you need and it can be done
with little knowledge of Mathematica’s syntax or commands.
What
does f '(x) say about f(x)? Though focused in aim, this applet provides
a nice interaction to exploring the relationship of f(x) and f ’(x). Input
any 3rd degree polynomial and drag the slider.
JavaSketchpad:
If you have Geometers’ Sketchpad you can export your worksheets to the web
for others to explore. Sketchpad isn’t free, however, and learning it can
take time (though well worth the effort). The alternative, of course, is to
use others’ work. And you can do just that at the sketchpad gallery. Check
out the “Sine waver” and conic sections.
Vassarstats:
This is another good site for online statistical analysis. It also includes
very extensive explanations.
National Library
for Virtual Manipulatives Useful for elementary math education courses,
this exceptional site contains interactive manipulatives for everything from
geoboards to statistics to fractals.
Project
Interactivate: While this site offers lessons, it’s the activities and
tools that I found remarkable. Over 100 well-made java activities are
available, covering all areas. (Note: The Caesar cipher has a one-to-one
issue when using an even multiplier)
Learning Theories Database
Still shopping for personal theories of learning and instruction? Perhaps
you can find one or two here.
World
Clock So your wristwatch has two time zones? This site has all of them
(and there are more than two). Latitude/longitude available on a
city-by-city basis. It also does date calculations - I’ve now been alive for
over 1 billion seconds.
U.S. Census
International Data Base Apparently they track much more than merely
those living in the United States. Lots of data in convenient downloadable
forms.
Larger Endeavors
MathTools A branch of the
immense mathfourm.org at Drexel, mathtools provides a more personal math
site. Although not yet complete, the site will categorize activities and
tools by courses (as of this writing only 3 courses are extant). Also
included are research and discussion areas. (Many of the activities link to
the java applets at “project interactivate.”) Given the success of the
mathforum, this will likely develop into a very complete site.
Merlot Merlot is a catalog of
educational, multimedia web sites. It offers a reader rating service and
peer reviews along with links to well-categorized web sites. You use this as
a jumping-off site for an afternoon of explorative surfing.
Project links A
enjoyable site. Rensselaer sponsors this site on mathematics and its
applications in engineering and science. While the modules are a
work-in-progress each is marked by its current state of development. The
modules are constructed around a “concepts, discover, apply, collaborate,
practice” framework and include sufficient interactivity. The math is
clearly college level. Be sure to read the system requirements first to
download the necessary support apps. The latest update was Feb. 2003.
MIT Opencourseware Feel like a linear
algebra lecture? Watch all or part of the MIT course at your leisure. MIT’s
project continues to build with course notes and video lectures for classes
across all disciplines. (Official launch Sept. 2003)
Addison Wesley Longman Math Notes
Poke
around you’ll find well-done “Interact math tutorials” within the sections.
After a plug-in is downloaded problems are generated and explanations are
given. The style, although text-bookish in nature (not super-intelligent in
its ‘guided solutions’), seems solid and reliable. A math palette is
available to aid entry.
Diversions
Cut-the-knot
This is a mega site. Within these pages you will find all sorts of
mathematical explorations and intrigues. 362 interactive activities, 61
games and puzzles (your favorite may well be there), 228 geometry topics
(many with applets), eye openers, and much more. This is a “must visit”
Powers
of 10 This is simply fun to watch. Orders of magnitude are demonstrated
exceptionally well.
GPS
activities Who would have thought that so much good math could be
applied with a fun tool like a global positioning system? I would love to
integrate this into my classes. Tap into a 12 billion dollar government
system with a one hundred dollar device.
Software
Peanut Software
homepage Wonderful free software from a regularly updated website.
Winplot is one of the best plotters I’ve seen. It is easy to use and rather
powerful with its animations. It allows simultaneous plotting in different
modes on the same grid (explicit, parametric, polar, and implicit). It also
does a nice job with slope fields (allowing real-time animation of
parameters) and three dimensional plots. The site offers a games package
(winarc) and a geometry package (wingeom) along with a host of other
applications. These are stand-alone executable apps, not java applets.
Easy
Calc for Palm OS This amazing free app is for your palm pilot. If you
are familiar with the TI-83 you’ll be right at home with this.
