If you teach Algebra/Pre-Algebra, you might like...

Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts focuses on manipulatives to bridge abstract algebraic representations and concrete experience. Three tools in quantities sufficient for classroom used are provided: geoboards, pattern blocks, and Lab Gear. Building understanding of symbols, variables, and a rationale for why symbolic transformations make sense is most important for students approaching the study of algebra. These materials are usable throughout the year. What do I get? A video of the Pattern Block Train exercise with a 6th grade class, pattern blocks, transparent geoboards, and a set of Lab Gear with a workbook on how to use these tools. What do I need to use it? An overhead projector. What content is in a lesson? Click here to view a sample activity for Algebra with Geoboards. Animations guide teachers through manipulative use. Texas Instruments CBL, a portable data acquisition device, brings real world data collection to the classroom. Students design and collect data from experiments on motion, cooling, and rotation. Data is shared with student calculators for interpretation and data fitting. CBL is a tool that can be used across the whole year. What do I get? One CBL interface with temp, and light probes, a Sonic Ranger, a work book with software to run the CBL and probes. What do I need to use it? TI Graphing Calculators, TI Graph LINK software, an LCD panel and display calculator. What content is in a lesson? Click here to view the introductory activity for CBL. Getting the interface to work is the first challenge. Experts are on-line to help you over glitches. Measurement in Motion defining, graphing, and analyzing motion with data from QuickTime movies. MIM is currently available for MAC only. A PC version is planned. With MIM students take data from frames of quicktime movies. The data is graphed and interpreted. Student made movies can be analyzed. MIM is designed for middle school and beginning algebra students. It is a tool that can be used throughout the year. What do I get? A full teacher's guide and CD with 100 clips AND a license to use MIM with any computer in the INTEC teachers' room or on any lab machine used by the INTEC teacher. What do I need to use it? Macintosh computers with a CD drive with 4 meg of disk space and 16 meg of RAM. Making home grown movies requires an AV machine with a capture board. What content is in a lesson? Click here to view the introductory activity for Measurement in Motion. Animations guide users on the interface and potential for the tool. SimCalc offers a unique window onto graphing and the mathematics of change. SC is designed to build a new ramp onto algebraic thinking from grade 4 through the college level. In SC the manipulation of graphs causes motion of objects in the different 'worlds'. By changing slopes elevators, ducks, dots, or clowns move faster, slower or stop. SC is fully scriptable to provide a flexible learning environment for all students. What do I get? A BETA version of the software and permission to install it on machines at your site. A full teacher's guide is available on line. An extensive set of curriculum materials has been developed and is available at the SIMCALC site. What do I need to use it? Macintosh computers with 8 meg of disk space and 16 meg of RAM. What content is in a lesson? Click here to view the introductory activity for SIMCALC. Animations guide first time users to rapid use of the tool. VideoPoint permits simple to more complex analysis of quicktime movie clips to explore the mathematics and physics of motion. Student apply mathematical modeling to real situations. Cartesian and polar coordinates are supported. "What is the speed of impact of a Karate chop?" "How do trig functions describe ferris wheels?" The combination of visual data and numerical and graphic analysis is unique and a most powerful learning tool. VP can be used as a data gathering tool with analysis done on students' graphing calculators. Student movie clips can be analysed as well. VideoPoint is a tool that can be used throughout the year. the VideoPoint interface is more complex than Measurement and Motion. It is better suited to secondary students. What do I get? A teacher's guide and CD with over 100 clips and one copy of the VideoPoint program. VideoPoint is available on BOTH Windows and Mac. What do I need to use it? Windows or Macintosh computers with a CD drive with 4 meg of disk space and 16 meg of RAM. What content is in a lesson? Click here to view an activity for VIDEOPOINT. Visual data lets students interact with phenomena they can understand and explore mathematically. Hoop shots, skate board or NBA clips are all sources of data. Experts are on-line to give a vision on how the tool works in a classroom.

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