Assignment Six: 

Mathematics, Computer Algebra Systems and programming- connections

A)  Explain when and how Computer Algebra Systems software can be used to enhance teaching and understanding.

Computer Algebra Systems software such as Maple and Scientific Notebook can be used to enhance teaching and understanding in many ways.  Computer Algebra Systems are very powerful software programs that can solve very easy to very difficult math problems.  The main questions are when and how to implement the CAS software into your classroom.

Computer Algebra Systems software should be implemented after the students have learned how to complete the math concepts by hand.  For example, students should be able to factor quadratic equations by hand first and then the instructor can introduce CAS software to speed the process of solving more difficult problems.  A danger with using CAS software is the students become dependent on the software and could not complete the math problems without the software.  The math concepts need to be explained and practiced before the students should be allowed to use the CAS software.

Computer Algebra Systems software should be implemented to give deeper meaning to the math concepts or to give a visual representation of the math concept.  Once the students have been taught the material and have practice the material, the CAS software can allow them to experiment with more difficult problems and find deeper meaning to the math concepts they are learning.  For example, once the students can factor quadratic equations and they move on to adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing rational expressions where factoring is involved the CAS software can speed up the factoring and they can concentrate on the new material.  Also the CAS software can give the students the answer and the students need to find the steps in between.  Another way to implement CAS software is for visual representation of the math concepts.  For example, after the students can graph equations by hand and they move on to systems of equations the CAS software can do the graphing and the students can concentrate on learning that where the graphs intersect are the point(s) that are solution(s) to the equations.  The CAS software can help students with more difficult math concepts through exploration and showing visual representations.

In conclusion, CAS systems can enhance teaching and learning through giving deeper meaning, provide chances for exploration, and visual representations to math concepts.  The only warning is to ensure that students do not become dependent on the software and they can not complete the problems without the assistance of the CAS software.  Technology is can be great help in the classroom, but it needs to be managed.

B)  Design a project that will incorporate web-friendly mathematical software that can be used on-line to explore/explain/expand a concept in a course.

****** The attachment is called Scientific Notebook and Scientific Notebook Graphing

C)  Write a one page position paper on using Power Point in mathematics courses.

            I first learned Power Point in college and I thought it was great tool for giving presentations in a business setting, but I never thought I would be using Power Point in teaching my mathematics courses.  I think that Power Point is a great software program that can really help present math concepts.  I have used Power Point in class lectures and faculty presentations, in my website, and after the Colorado conference I am using Power Point in conjunction with Camtasia.

            I used Power Point when I teach my mathematics courses and in faculty presentations to help present math topics and math teaching techniques and tools.  In my courses I use Power Point to display mathematical definitions so the students can read them easily versus me writing illegibly on the chalk board.  I can also emphasize certain words in a definition.  I can insert pictures that I have created from the TI calculator next to an equation, get any math graphic from the Internet using Snag It, and math symbols created with Math Type, then easily present it with Power Point.  In my presentations that I do for faculty I can make the presentation more interesting with sounds, clip art, movie clips, and slide animations.  Power Point makes lecture and presentation easier for me to present and easier for students to learn.

            I have used Power Point in conjunction with my web page.  I have created lessons of Power Point and display them on the web page.  This allows students to review the material at their own pace from the comfort of their homes.  The lessons are easy for the students to read and understand.  The lessons can also be printed and used as notes.  I have now incorporated Camtasia with Power Point to create lesson that the students can easily read and with Camtasia can hear my explanation of the examples.  I am very hopeful that this will help students learn the material and perform better in the class.

            Power Point has been a great asset to my course.  I feel the students find the lectures easier to understand.  My presentations are clearer, more organized, and peak more interested using Power Point and the animation and extra features.  Power Point can easier be used with the graphing calculator, math type, Camtasia and other programs.  Overall it has made my mathematics course better.