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Relevant initiatives

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RELEVANT INITIATIVES FORM

Title of Initiative / Project
Computer-Based Math
Web site
http://www.computerbasedmath.org/
Level
European
Type of deliverables
Teaching Methodology
Thematic area
Maths, ICT
Language of the deliverable
English
Target Group
Teachers, Students
Description of the initiative
computerbasedmath.org is initially supported by Wolfram Research. For over 20 years, Wolfram Research has had a unique position at the epicenter of math and its uses: using high-powered math to develop the latest algorithms for Mathematica and Wolfram|Alpha software, employing mathematicians and other STEM specialists; supplying technology to the world's community of math users; and interacting with leading experts from all technical fields. That's not to mention its involvement with thousands of universities, schools, and courses worldwide. Wolfram Research really is the "math company".
More Information
Not bad way of computer use in education process. Much more information can be handled during the lessons and it is already closer to the world level, where the use of IT is leading the way. Yet is problematic rapid introduction of computer-based math. Schools lack of funds for a large-scale equipment. But may recommend a gradual introduction of computer equipment.
https://www.wolfram.com/mathematica/trial/ - on this site you can download the program.
Teachers’ Opinion
Computer-based math students in their studies are engaged with the real world, a key part of which is using computers for doing most of the calculations. Instead of standard maths problems students work on problems they care about, achieving new heights of understanding and seeing new relevance of math. For this reason it is very easy to introduce such study method to students, who are very often more competent in IT than their teachers.
For the teachers usually it’s quite difficult to persuade school management and the parents about such learning methods, because they are more conservative.
Also technical equipment is an issue, because in schools there are not enough computers for both informatics and mathematics lessons, which happen parallel at the same time.
The project website and the information available there is a great support in the teaching process.
Students’ Opinion
Computer - based maths should be used more often (even always) in studying mathematics, because nowadays computers are used in everyday life. In this way the real life use of mathematics can be seen and understood much better. This is a very good approach to mathematics learning and seems interesting, more attractive for the students.
The project website is very good and helpful and gives great ideas for studying and actually linking different non-mathematical problems to mathematics.

Comments on this Relevant initiatives

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Date: 2015.03.18

Posted by Anna Bańkowska (Polska)

Using computers on broader scale might facilitate the work with students. Such solutions help them to imaginate the topics. The problem is the access to computer labs. The website contains interesting materials to try out at my lessons.

Date: 2015.02.27

Posted by Anna Sanchis (Spain)

Wolfram, sometimes, is hard to use. And is difficult to know all the thinks it can do. I like initiatives like this that try to approach this tool to the academical world.

Date: 2015.02.19

Posted by Jose Castillo (Spain)

I use Wolfram sometimes to find a specific solution to problems. It's surprising how it works well most of the times.
It's a powerful tool for teaching maths in a modern way.

The project seem very interesting. But I miss more examples or materials to work directly with Wolfram.

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Dissemination Seminar in Florence

31 October 2015 The seminar has been held in ITIS “A. Meucci” one of the schools involved within Goerudio project activities. Its main aim was to promote the results of the project toward a broad sample of stakeholders even overcrossing the number of people directly involved in the production of project outcomes. This purpose has been totally achieved especially thanks to the participation of students and teachers coming from different schools or from other classes instead of those ones directly involved within the project activities.