edu-tastic

For web resources, hundreds of problems, problem-solving strategies, and teaching tips, Ask Dr. Math is a great site. It’s a collection of math questions sent in to the people at the Math Forum, who provide answers with basic principles and computation, but also real-world applications. “Dr. Math” is a large group of volunteer math professors and students from Drexel and Swarthmore University. All of the questions and responses are sorted by grade level and by category for quick reference. It’s relatively easy to navigate, although there are some features that are hidden pretty well. The searchable archive helps with that, though. It’s a good site for both teachers and students; there are plenty of word problems that a teacher can use in the lessons or students can practice with, and the answers can even act as supplements to the lessons. There’s tons of external links, and it’s free and accessible to everyone. Although there’s nothing particularly visually exciting about the site, it is a great source of information.

Interactivate is a website that integrates modeling and simulation courseware with science and math lessons. It’s a good website for students and teachers, and is organized mainly into these two sections (Leaners and Instructors). The Learners’ page contains an activity list, a dictionary of math concepts, and tools that supplement the lessons. The Instructors’ page contains lessons, sample discussions from classrooms, and links to the NCTM standards. Most of the contents are geared toward upper level elementary and middle school grades, but there is a fair amount of content for grades 3-5. One of the best features of the site is the lessons and activities. With each lesson, the objectives and standards addressed are listed, as well as the specific outline of the plan. Each lesson is also accompanied by an interactive computer tool that varies from lesson to lesson. There is a ridiculous amount of information that can be used in the classroom. It’s organized well, letting you browse and search by subject and sub-topic. The best feature about the site is the ability for students to work hands-on with and manipulate the concepts from any computer.

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