Transcript IT’S ALIVE: DYNAMIC VISUALIZATION IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE Scott A. Sinex & Barbara A.

IT’S ALIVE: DYNAMIC
VISUALIZATION IN
MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
Scott A. Sinex & Barbara A. Gage
Department of Physical Sciences
Prince George’s Community College
Presented at MICCA 2002: Technology, the Classroom, and You
Baltimore, MD, 19-20 March 2002
The Advantages of Technology
a tool to enhance guided-inquiry instruction
• Fast manipulation of large data sets
• For graphical presentation: static to
dynamic (mathematical models and
simulations)
• Leaving flatland: 2D to 3D with
movement
• Abstract concepts illustrated –
microscopic nature of matter
Meeting National Standards
• American Mathematical Association for
Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC)
• National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics (NCTM)
• NSF’s Shaping the Future
• National Science Education Standards
• College Pathways to the Science Education
Standards (NSTA)
• National Educational Technology Standards
(NETS)
Dynamic Visualization
Modified from Barry Adams, Apple Computer
The tools we use
TI-83 graphing calculator – data analysis
Excel – data analysis and interactive
spreadsheets
STELLA modeling software - simulations
Chime – molecular structure rendering
software (freeware)
Spartan – to produce animations of molecules
Internet – data source, Java simulations
NetLogo (StarLogo T) – simulations of
collections of particles (freeware)
Why do we do this?
• To get students actively engaged in
the learning process
• To explore further possibilities
with models and simulations
• To investigate at the conceptual
level
Downloads of freeware and
pdf handouts for software
PGCC Physical Sciences Dept.
Interactive Curves
Weak Acid Behavior
Gas Velocity Distribution
To get STELLA at High Performance Systemshttp://www.hps-inc.com
Maryland Virtual High School CoreModels Program
Dissolved Oxygen Model and Simulation
(Use IE to download)
To get Chime: http://www.mdli.com
Molecules in Motion
Structure and Bonding
The chemists have left flatland!
Browser plug-in and allows for interaction
Rotation of Biphenyl Molecule
and its relative energy
Big movie file –slow to load
Expensive software – faculty using as a tool in class
and to produce animations as movies
NCTM Illuminations Website
Ocean Dive Simulation
http://www.illuminations.nctm.org/imath/912/Light/student/simdive.html
To get Netlogohttp://www.ccl.sesp.northwestern.edu/netlogo/
Gas Particles Model
How has our
classroom changed?
More use of Internet and STELLA
simulations in lecture/discussion
More class time spent in the computer lab
More out-of-class projects that involve
modeling data
Assessment of understanding rather than
just regurgitation or algorithm application
More integration of mathematics
How have our
students changed?
Ask more involved questions and are
more willing to participate
Are more comfortable using
technology
Handle more involved assessments
and projects successfully
Department of Physical Sciences – downloadable
resources at http://academic.pg.cc.md.us/psc
Scott Sinex ([email protected])
http://academic.pg.cc.md.us/~ssinex
see teaching and publications list
Barb Gage ([email protected])
http://academic.pg.cc.md.us/~bgage
see courses taught