Re: The newest technology being used to teach math

Gary Helmer (helmerg@OPERATNS.MOHAWKC.ON.CA)
Sat, 25 Jan 1997 13:14:25 -0500

Wayne Mackey wrote:
>
<SNIP>
>
> I thought the question was about technology used to TEACH math not to DO
> math. Did I misunderstand?
>
> wayne
>
I'm not sure we could or should try to separate the "TEACHing" and
"DOing" of math in the discussion of "latest" technology.
Two recent additions in the software area are:
1. the Windows version of DERIVE (see
http://www.derive.com/derive.htm)

This software provides significant improvements over the DOS version,
while retaining the basic structure of the DOS version. This would seem
to suggest that the numerous books and manuals that have been written
based on the DOS version will require minimal updating....

2. the new Windows package called SCIENTIFIC NOTEBOOK (see
http://www.scinotebook.tcisoft.com/scinotebook/default.htm)

SCIENTIFIC NOTEBOOK (SN) is currently in a BETA 3 version but should be
released for sale any day now. The BETA 3 version can be downloaded for
free and used for 30 days. It is produced by TCI Software Research, and
distributed by Brookes/Cole. This package is a version of the companion
product SCIENTIFIC WORPLACE. It appears to be an amazing tool for
both teaching and learning. It is a scientific word processor with the
MAPLE Computer Algebra package built in. It has the best available
equation editor and the simplest interface to MAPLE (no MAPLE syntax to
learn), providing an excellent tool. The package is also WEB enabled -
meaning you can open Scientific Notebook documents from anywhere on the
WEB and save then edit those documents. SN has numerous features that
should make teaching and doing mathematics a new experience. And all
for $60! I think this Listserv is an excellent vehicle for discussing
your views on SN.

--
Gary  Helmer            helmerg@operatns.mohawkc.on.ca