The
Chaos Game: Stimulating Math Curiosity with Interactive
Software
by
Richard O'Malley, Professor, Department of Mathematical
Sciences,
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
In
the early 1990s, Richard O'Malley was asked to design
a math seminar for incoming freshmen at UW-Milwaukee.
The seminar had to present math as an area of open inquiry,
address the anxieties of students with little math experience,
and sharpen students' critical thinking and writing skills.
O'Malley met this challenge in two ways: by clearly defining
the course's goals and his methods of achieving them,
and by creating a software program that would engage students
visually and intellectually. O'Malley has found the software
an effective tool in helping students understand concepts
underlying chaos and fractals. (March 2001)
Mathematics
on the Web
Professor Don Piele
Department of Mathematics, UW-Parkside
Don
Piele has created an on-line calculus course that allows
students to visualize calculus concepts and solve problems
using Mathematica, a powerful tool used by both students
and professionals. Prof. Piele provides background on
the development of his course, its structure, plus information
on software and approximate costs.
Virtual
Textbook of College Math
Professor M. Maheswaran
Department of Mathematics, UW-Marathon County
Professor
Maheswaran has devised a mathematics courses using hypermedia/web
materials and math software, as well as a Virtual Textbook
of College Algebra and Geometry, a project of his own
design. These materials serve two important functions.
First, they provide valuable reference materials to supplement
textbooks used in class and, second, they are helpful
as presentation and discussion tools in the classroom.