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The purpose of this site is to collect high quality interactive applets which can be used by students and teachers to enhance student understanding of mathematics, and to organize them into a database web site so that they are easily accessible. The database of interactive applets, organized by grade level or high school math course, may be accessed by using the Index Page. I'm taking on this project because I hear frequently from K-12 classroom teachers that they would like to use Internet applets, but do not have the time to sift through the hundreds (1000's?) of mathematics web sites to mine the high quality interactive applets. None of the applets found in the index have been created by me. The applets are organized into three categories, Math Games, Demonstration/Exploration Tools, and Puzzles, which are defined on this page.
Like most web site projects, this is a work in progress and I'll add pages as I get time. Feedback, suggestions, and comments are welcome. A feedback form is below.
In general, for an interactive applet to be included in this database it needs to be:
- Interactive and dynamic,
- Free,
- Mathematically correct,
- Of high quality,
- Run in the browser (without downloading any software). Typical applets are Java, Shockwave, or Flash based. Standard plug-ins may be required.
Further selection criteria is given under the following three categories.
| Math Games |
~ For fun learning, indoor recess, incentives,
after school programs, practice, at home use, etc. ~
|
A Math Game is a learning activity which:
- Has some sort of "goal" to achieve - something to accomplish - a way to "win,"
- Is fun, challenging, or interesting,
- Relates to a Mathematics Content Standard or Process Standard† (That is, it relates to the ISAT or PSAE.),
- Is self-explanatory (so it can be used with little or no explanation or training, for indoor recess, rewards, practice, enrichment, after school programs).
| Demonstration/Exploration Tools |
~ For teacher demonstrations or student
explorations ~
|
A Demonstration/Exploration Tools is an applet which:
- Is useful for teachers to demonstrate a concept or
- Is useful to students to explore a concept,
- Relates to a Mathematics Content Standard or Process Standard† (That is, it relates to the ISAT or PSAE.),
- Could also be used as a learning activity (to turn these applets into learning activities, the teacher needs to provide directions, questions, or a goal to achieve),
| Puzzles |
~ For those who like challenges and competition
~
|
A Puzzle is an applet which:
- Has some sort of "goal" to achieve - something to accomplish - a way to "win,"
- Is fun, challenging, or interesting,
- Involves logic or reasoning,
- (These may not relate directly to a content standard†.)
Games, Demonstration/Exploration Tools, and Puzzles can be use as "Quickie Online Activities." For a description (and recommendations for using them) click What is a Quickie Online Activity?. On the Demonstration/Exploration Tools pages, on the far right-hand column of the table, Available Activities are given for many of the tools. They may be handouts, student recording sheets, or recommended questions.
The Content Standards are Number & Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Probability & Statistics. See also, ISBE and NCTM.
The Process Standards are Problem Solving, Reasoning, Communication, Connections, Representation. See also, ISBE and NCTM.
I, Jim Olsen, am an associate professor in the Mathematics Department at Western Illinois University. I teach mathematics courses and teaching methods courses for prospective and practicing teachers. My research interests are student understanding of the function concept, educational uses of technology, and problem solving. For more detailed information, click Info on Dr. O.
Please give me your feedback on the Online Math Games, Demonstration/Exploration Tools, and Puzzles web site. Do you have suggested applets to add? Are there links that don't work? Do you like it? E-mail me. Thanks, in advance.
For technical tips and to download necessary plugins click Tech Tips.
Consult some of my other pages to find more:
Online Math Games, Demonstration/Exploration Tools, and Puzzles
by: James R. Olsen,
Western Illinois University
updated:
August 13, 2007