RESOURCES

Interactive Sites

Applets
"An applet is a small, self-contained program that runs in a web page. Applets are intended to illustrate concepts and techniques in an interactive, dynamic way. A teacher or student can download an applet, drop it in a web page, and then add other elements of her own choice (such as expository text, data sets, and graphics). Many of the applets in the library contain essentially no explicit mathematical analysis, and thus can be used by students and teachers at various levels. These applets are intended to be small "micro worlds" where students can run virtual versions of random experiments and play virtual versions of statistical games."

Interactive is a site created by the Shodor Education Foundation. Their online interactive simulations and models are designed to enable and encourage exploration and discovery through observation, conjecture, and modeling activities.

Mathlets: JavaTM Applets for Math Explorations
Many applets available to demonstrate mathematical concepts from calculating the slope of a line to systems of Differential Equations.

Maths Online Gallery. The Gallery consists of interactive multimedia learning units on various issues that shall facilitate understanding.

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is an extensive site of virtual manipulatives created for all math strands in the Grade 9 to 12 curriculum. With support from the National Science Foundation, the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives was created by a team of mathematicians and instructional design experts at Utah State University. Additional development is ongoing to extend and enhance the NLVM under a new NSF grant.

NCTM provides two interactive online environments: Illuminations and e-Examples.

Studyworksonline is a which is a service of MathSoft Engineering & Education, Inc., a provider of interactive math, science, and engineering software products and content.

Create Your Own Simulations

Easy Java Simulations
Francisco Esquembre has created a free software tool called Easy Java Simulations (Ejs, for short). It is designed for science teachers and students who want to create their own simulations. When you go to the site you will see a number of example simulations and you can also download the program.

NetLogo
Uri Wilensky and his researchers at Connected Learning Lab have created a free software tool called Netlogo which can be downloaded free of charge. Netlogo is a very powerful simulation environment. It is designed for math and science teachers and students who want to create their own simulations. When you go to the site you will see a number of model simulations and you can also download the program. They have just released a 3D version of the program.

Squeak
Squeak is a "media authoring tool"-- software that you can download to your computer and then use to create your own media or share and play with others. Squeak is open source software - which means it has been created and developed by a body of individuals in a communal effort to broaden its ability and explore new realms of computing and media development.

Problems of the Week

NRICH is sponsored by the University of Cambridge. Its aim is

• to enrich mathematical experiences by giving students the opportunity to explore and engage with mathematical ideas.
• To offer challenging activities which provide students with opportunities to develop their mathematics.
• To foster a community where students can be involved and supported in their own learning and where effort and achievement is celebrated.