NEWSLETTER: VOL II, # 8, APRIL 10, 1998
Virtual Textbook of College Math
Professor M. Maheswaran
Department of Mathematics, UW-Marathon County
In the classroom, I teach mathematics courses using hypermedia/web
materials and math software. Among the materials I use are significant portions
of a Virtual Textbook of College Algebra and Geometry, a project of my own design.
My web 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.
The project started with a set of hypertext notes and examples together with
related graphics that I posted on the web in early 1994. At that time,
I also compiled a "catalog of mathematics resources on the world wide web
and the internet". Two years ago I expanded my notes and examples
project to include a virtual textbook, which is a work in progress. The original
limited version of hypertext notes and examples are on the UW-Marathon County
web server at http://mthwww.uwc.edu/wwwmahes/courses/math/mm110nts.htm
and http://mthwww.uwc.edu/wwwmahes/courses/math/mm110exs.htm
The expanded Virtual Textbook version is available to all
my mathematics students via a separate web server. Access has been restricted
for copyright reasons.
During the fall of 1997, I set up a computer classroom at UW-MC with the help
of a $65,000 grant that received through the UW-MC Foundation. This has allowed
students to access the web materials as well as use mathematics software during
classes. My students have responded favorably to these materials, finding
them to be extremely helpful in both of these functions. Students are
also able to access these materials from home and other remote locations.
I set up the UW-MC world wide web server in early 1994 as an archive for educational
materials for undergraduate students in all areas of study. Many professors
in different areas of study are making use of this server. Since my web notes
and the mathematics catalog were some of the earliest on the entire web, I received
a large number of responses and enquiries from several different countries as
well as from many schools and students from within the US. For further
information and questions, you can reach Professor Maheswaran at mmaheswa@uwc.edu