Re: Computer Mediated Algebra -Reply
Mike Mallen (MALLEN@GATE1.SBCC.CC.CA.US)
Mon, 15 Apr 1996 12:35:35 -0800
I hope the Academic Systems software has improved since we checked
it out. Academic Systems gives a hard sell. In our case, the
administration was approached ('sold' would be a better word) first. We
then felt enormous pressure to examine and adopt the program. We
examined it in detail and rejected it. The administration was very
disappointed with us because of the potential cost-savings which
teaching algebra by computers would entail. I resent their attempting to
first sell administrators , who are not as welll equipped to make
judgments on content and delivery of subject matter as faculty.
My information is about 1.5 years old, but basically the program uses as
a model a widely used traditional algebra text. I am sold on the AMATYC
and NCTM STANDARDS approaches to math teaching, and this program,
though it had great delivery potential (using sight and sound interaction
with the computer) was a disappointment. I saw very little of 'guided
discovery' approach which is characteristic of some of the reform
materials. The word problems, for example, were all in one section
rather than being interspersed throughout the text. The programming
group is a fine bunch of people and if anyone can eventually create a
reasonably good computer delivery of elementary and intermediate
algebra, they can. I wish they had paid more attention to the math reform
movement and had approached faculty first.
>>> Peter Collinge <pcollinge@GEMINI.MTH.MONROECC.EDU> 04/12/96
11:45am >>>
Robert Garry asked:
>On the National News a few days ago there was a report on the use of
>computers for algebra instruction. The report went on to say that test
>scores of the students using the program showed significant
improvement. Did
>anyone hear the story and remember the name of the program(s) being
used?
Assuming this was the same algebra software mentioned in a 4/3/96
Wall Street
Journal article (page B6), the developer's name is Academic Systems,
Inc. of Mountain View, CA. The company's chairman is Bernard Gifford,
formerly dean of the Graduate School of Education at Berkeley and then
Apple's vice president of education. (Prior to that, he was here in
Rochester.) I believe that Borough of Manhattan CC may be one of the
software test sites.
Peter Collinge
Mathematics Department
Internet: pcollinge@gemini.mth.monroecc.edu Monroe Community
College
Voice: (716) 292-2943 Rochester, NY 14623