Maplets in Mathematics
Abstract:
The goal of this project is to create Maplets to enhance student learning of mathematics. These Maplets would be made accessible, via the web, to all students and instructors at the participating institutions. There will be three stages to complete this project.
Stage 1 - Training
The ability to create Maplets was developed by Waterloo Maple, the creators of the computer algebra system Maple. Waterloo Maple offers on-site training to educate faculty on how to create and use Maplets. We propose to offer training in the creation of Maplets for 5-10 mathematics faculty at the Five Colleges of Ohio. This training would occur during March 7-22, 2003 at The College of Wooster. Training would be for two days.
Stage 2 – Project Planning and Dissemination
During May 2003, any interested faculty from the Five Colleges of Ohio would meet at a two day conference to make plans for the construction of the web site and its content. This must be done with some lag after the on site training in order for those who participated in the training to have time to explore the possibilities and limitations of Maplets. Presentations by those trained would give new participants a vision for what can be accomplished. Participants would be broken into working groups that would have specific tasks, aimed at construction of the web site, assigned for them to accomplish.
Stage 3 – Implementation
The goal is to have the web site operational by Fall 2004. This would allow time for the work groups established in Stage 2 to complete their assignments using time in the academic year 2003-2004 and the summer of 2004. The web site would be hosted and mirrored by all of the Five Colleges of Ohio and updates and improvements would be ongoing.