Mathlets: An Introduction

This self-paced short course focuses on the use of technology in mathematics education at the university level. Specifically, this course introduces the participant to the MIT Mathlet collection by providing examples of the Mathlets use in three different contexts:

• As lecture demonstrations (Module 1).
• As a focus for student group work (Module 2).
• As part of a homework assignment (Module 3).

Each presentation of the use of Mathlets in the different contexts is followed by the instructor’s thoughts, experiences, and recommendations regarding the use of Mathlets within that context. To give the participant practice at integrating the Mathlet technology into his or her own teaching this course includes interactive discussion questions as well as a set of ungraded exercises at the end of each module.

Course Instructors

Haynes R. Miller, Ph.D.

Module 1: Mathlets in Lecture

This module contains two examples of the use of the MIT Mathlets in lecture. The first illustrates the artistic and dynamic character of the Mathlets. The second and more interactive example shows how formulas can be brought to life using the Mathlets in lecture. Each segment is followed by an opportunity for you to discuss this material on the Discussion Forum, and some remarks of my own about the lecture fragments and the features of the Mathlets and their use that are illuminated by these examples. At the end there are a couple of exercises for you to complete.

Module 2: Mathlets in Group Work

The first segment of this module contains an example of the use of a Mathlet to organize group work by students in a lecture setting. The second provides several samples of what you can ask groups of students to do using the Mathlets, in or out of a classroom. Each segment is followed by an opportunity for you to discuss this material on the Discussion Forum, and some remarks of my own about the lecture fragments and the features of the Mathlets and their use that are demonstrated by these examples. At the end there are a couple of assignments for you.

Module 3: Mathlets in Homework

Each segment of this module consists of sample homework assignments created around one or another of the MIT Mathlets. Each segment is followed by an opportunity for you to discuss this material on the Discussion Forum, and some remarks of my own about the features of the Mathlets and their use that are illuminated by these examples. At the end there are a couple of exercises for you.

Wrap-Up and Conclusion

We end with another look at the resources available at the Mathlets website, and a listing of the Virtues of the Mathlets that have been illustrated along the way in this short course.