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Math Central: An Internet Service for Teachers of Mathematics

Math Central: An Internet Service for Teachers of Mathematics. Vi Maeers and Harley Weston University of Regina. Math Central. Denis Hanson, Vi Maeers and Harley Weston Saskatchewan Curriculum Implementation Lack of accessible resources

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Math Central: An Internet Service for Teachers of Mathematics

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  1. Math Central: An Internet Service for Teachers of Mathematics Vi Maeers and Harley Weston University of Regina

  2. Math Central • Denis Hanson, Vi Maeers and Harley Weston • Saskatchewan Curriculum Implementation • Lack of accessible resources • Public School Board math and language arts committee • Funding

  3. Usage • 18500 hits/day • 1400 visitors/day • Saskatchewan 2% • Canada 10 - 15% • USA 75-80%

  4. http://MathCentral.uregina.ca/

  5. Resource Room • can be searched by browsing the database (by grade level and curriculum strand) • can also be searched by keyword, title or author • submissions to Resource Room come from teachers, preservice teachers, and university professors, and from the Stewart Resource Centre

  6. Resource Room (cont’d) Resources • grade and strand example • keyword example • title example • author example

  7. Quandaries and Queries Keywords: algebra, train tunnel, guess and check,real life, meter, golf, percentage, ...

  8. Bulletin BoardTeacher TalkProblem of the Month

  9. Math Central Survey • Fall 1998 survey posted on Math Central • http://MathCentral.uregina.ca/survey • purpose was to determine how teachers were using Math Central • presentation to MSET at San Antonio in March 1999

  10. Purposes of Survey 1. To determine how Math Central resources are being used; 2. To explore connection between web resources and understanding/achievement; 3. To find out what people are searching for at Math central and then their use of that resource; 4. To ask if the web can make a difference to math achievement.

  11. Math Central SurveyFindings Number of Responses • Teachers 86 • Preservice teachers 24 • Parents 13 • Other 21 • Total 142

  12. Can the World Wide Web Make a Difference in Teaching and Learning in Mathematics? • Increase interest and motivation in learning mathematics--creates active learners • Instant and current results (e.g., Stats)--good source of information; also currency of teaching approaches & classroom-tested activities • People who are excited about math put exciting things on the web!! • Extension of teaching • The web enables sharing of teachers’ and of students’ work (so that others can benefit) • The web is a place to go to to find answers (e.g., Quandaries & Queries) or to talk to other teachers (e.g., Teacher talk)

  13. Can the World Wide Web Make a Difference in Teaching and Learning in Mathematics? • Enables students to work more independently and creatively • The web (math sites) is like a math lab outside the classroom--an alternative learning/teaching tool • A great resource for special education • Enables access to a great variety of material • Need to be web literate (i.e., how to search, what you’re looking for & how to evaluate)

  14. Summary of Views on the Impact of the Web on Teaching and Learning in Math • Helps understanding • Promotes interest/motivation in learning • Provides current, easily-accessible resources • Access of material for remote areas and special teaching situations • Fosters sharing of ideas/questions • Fosters creativity & independent learning • Need to be web-literate and have good search/retrieval skills

  15. Summary of Views on the Impact of the Web on Teaching and Learning in Math There is no evidence to claim a direct link between the use of web resources and mathematics achievement (as indicated by test scores). But we can claim that: • Web-based technology can engage students’ interest and can provide the occasion for learning (mathematics) • Teachers who use web resources (appropriately) in teaching may well provide a rich learning environment for students • Good teaching is just that--good teaching; good teachers who use web resources use themeffectively and appropriately.

  16. New Initiatives in Web-Based Learning • Different ICT implementation models • Regina Catholic Board • Regina Public Board • BrainBinder • Sasked GrassRoots initiatives • ICT criticism

  17. Math Central Expansion • Funding for Math Central • SEED grant money, ongoing grant money, secondary funding Above funding used almost entirely to hire students • NSERC funding—PromoScience—CMSTE • Math With a Human Face • Transdisciplinary Fund—Aboriginal Contributions • Technology Innovation—Inuit Contributions

  18. How to contact us • Vi Maeers • maeers@uregina.ca • Harley Weston • weston@math.uregina.ca • Denis Hanson • dhanson@math.uregina.ca

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