MathCad gives you access to a pretty generous helping of math
typographies (Riemann Sum symbol, Liebnitz dy/dx, function notation,
matrices, greek lettering etc.), so you can duplicate text books
at the level of providing a professional math-oriented look and
feel. MathCad comes with an internalized version of Maple (a
symbolic processing module), quite servicable.
Under the hood, MathCad is basically a spreadsheet, with the cell-
formulae taking input from cell values (scattered above-left --
sheets calculated top-down).
My curriculum encourages students to express their mathematical
explorations on the web, using HTML (moving towards XML). The
ability to produce web pages is part of basic literacy these
days, at the same level as other punctuation. So the process
of doing mathematics includes formatting and sharing your
results electronically (lots of ways to do this of course, but
cutting and pasting patches of MathCad worksheets is simple
enough -- just make GIFs).
Our geometry is definitely of the 'Beyond Flatland' variety.
Euclidean flatlander stuff (trig, planar geometry) is introduced
_after_ a foundation of spatial concepts has been introduced,
starting with sphere packing and a concentric hierarchy of
polyhedra (in a sphere packing context).
Lots of hands on modeling of course, but at the software level
we use STRUCK, Java freeware that allows building fairly elaborate
spatial "strucktures" with simple mouse clicks -- no need to
enter coordinates via the interface (though of course coordinate
geometry comes into play as we study the "back door" methods
whereby Struck creations get saved as VRML or Povray files
-- with Struck itself moving in the directin of XML for its
own saved outputs).
In sum: MathCad + Struck + Povray + VRML + Browser + HTML
tool of some kind, forms a backbone, with DOME (freeware)
and other downloads also in the picture. Early exposure to
Java and Linux is highly encouraged.
We don't use calculators much -- a waste of time next to what
we can offer through the standard, off the shelf home computer
these days.
Kirby
Curriculum writer
Oregon Curriculum Network
http://www.teleport.com/~pdx4d/ocn/
****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: majordomo@archives.math.utk.edu *
* In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe mathedcc *
* Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************