Technology Anthology- Laith

Paul’s Online Math Notes

This is a free website created by math Professor Paul Dawkins of Lamar University. It includes comprehensive notes/tutorials with examples on topics in Algebra, Calculus I, Calculus II and Calculus III. Although created primarily for the professor’s students, all are welcome to use this site. Many of the tutorials have practice problems with them. Moreover, the site contains cheat sheets with various formulas and properties (depending on the topic) as well as additional pages such as Complex Number primer, a set of Common Math Errors, and some tips on How to Study Math. According to the site’s homepage, the notes are written assuming the student does not have prior knowledge about the subject but does know the prerequisite material. The description states: “it is assumed that you know Algebra and Trig prior to reading the Calculus I notes, know Calculus I prior to reading the Calculus II notes.” This particular resource was created for college students in either Algebra, Calculus I, Calculus II or Calculus III classes. That said, it may also be used by high school students in upper level math classes. I would definitely recommend the notes for students who are either struggling to understand the class lecture, in need of additional explanations/guidance, missed class, or simply as supplemental references for homework and exam preparation. On a side note, a university professor created the materials, so it is reassuring that the information came from a credible source.


http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/

Khan Academy

This is one of the most well-known, free supplemental material resources used by students all around the world, including myself. Created by MIT and Harvard graduate Salman Khan, this website includes video tutorials (also found on YouTube) on many subjects such as biology, economics, finance and obviously math. It contains countless math topics ranging from basic algebra to integral calculus. Each topic has subtopics, which contain many video tutorials. Although the videos are the main focus of the website, there are also additional notes and practice problems students should take advantage of. What makes this resource great is that the tutor doing the explaining (Khan himself) is genuinely very good at what he does. His explanations are thorough, clear and they include examples. The collections of videos were created for all students from all levels. There is a significant amount of college level material (that’s why many college students use it), however, Khan also includes videos for third graders. Students suing Khan Academy do not necessarily need any information prior to listening to the lectures. Students are able to move to a previous video or section based on their needs. The videos are organized in order so that students can easily navigate the topics and subtopics based on their particular needs. I would definitely recommend the notes for students who are either struggling to understand the class lecture, in need of additional explanations/guidance. I’m not sure this would ideally be the primary resource for students to fully master a topic, however, it is excellent for those who need clarifications.

 

https://www.khanacademy.org/

Maths Is Fun

Maths is Fun is a free website that provides notes on a wide range of mathematical concepts (many of which our class has covered). Subjects explained start from pre-algebra to calculus as well as geometry and statistics topics like probability. This website is a great tool for students because it gives the most important information about the topics without being too overwhelming. The notes are clear, simplistic, and highlight the fundamentals of the respective math areas. For example, in the derivative section, there is an easy-to-read table that shows the common function, function and derivative followed by several examples. A common downside to tutorial sites is that they are too overwhelming, trying to fit a large amount of information in to a condensed space. However, this pragmatic approach to explanations makes it easier for students with a not so strong math background math to better comprehend the material. Furthermore, they include practice problems at the end of each page. Students do not need to have prior knowledge about a particular topic because, like Khan Academy, they are at liberty to go over previous notes based on their needs. The site also includes games and puzzles that have nothing to do with math and are geared towards younger learners. That said, the notes are for high school students in upper level classes and college students. I would recommend the notes for students who are either struggling to understand the class lecture or in need of additional explanations/guidance and practice.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/index.htm

Wolfram MathWorld

Wolfram MathWorld is a free website created to provide definitions to mathematical concepts and theories. It’s similar to a math dictionary or encyclopedia. It is organized in such a way that the user can search their concept either by topic or in alphabetical order. The website comprises of topics ranging from algebra to calculus to statistics and even topology. In fact, there is a whole section on applied mathematics, including many of the concepts we have covered over the semester. The definitions are simplistic, sometimes including formulas and examples. Again, this website is made to be a math dictionary and does not have explanation of concepts. Due to the nature of the resource, students do not need to depend on prior knowledge. The site is well suited for college students who are preparing for an exam or in need of clarification regarding what a concept is. I would recommend this resource for students who are merely need a definition or need a basis of conceptual information on homework or exam preparation.  This would be ideal for students in our class to go over when preparing for the definition section of the exam.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/