MERLOT peer review

http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=78197

Quality of Content:
1. Does the software present valid (correct) concepts, models, and skills?

Yes, the website contains a collection of articles, applets, puzzles, and problems with valid information.

2.Does the software present educationally significant concepts, models, and skills for the discipline?

Yes, there are plenty of resources for high school math, specifically algebra and geometry.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching-Learning Tool:
1. What stage(s) in the learning process/cycle could the materials be used?
a. Explanation or description of the topic/stating the problem
b. Demonstration of the curriculum/exploration of the problem
c. Practice using the curriculum/analysis of the outcomes from solving the problem
d. Applying the curriculum to "new" problems/application of the outcomes to other problems

Mainly, the website’s materials can be used as explanation and demonstration tools, where the author writes information about various math concepts and includes applets to illustrate mathematical ideas. The author does allow users to apply the curriculum in some of the problems as well.

2. What is (are) the learning objective(s)? What should students be able to do after successfully learning with the materials?

Depending on what link is chosen, the learning objective is to first read the information provided by the author about the math topic. Next, there is a problem, puzzle, or applet that allows users to demonstrate that they understood the material. For example, “Factoring with the Factor Tree” gives users a brief written tutorial on the concept of factoring. Then below is an applet designed for users to build their own factor tree, demonstrating that they understood how to factor numbers.

3. What are the characteristics of the target learner(s)?

Learners can vary in age from middle school to high school level mathematics. The topics under the subject can also be varied because the website contains many different concepts. There are certain links that are also applicable to college-level students.

4. Does the interactive/media-rich presentation of material improve faculty and students' abilities to teach and learn the materials?

This resource definitely helps to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics, but may not necessarily be a replacement for actual lessons.

5. Can the use of the software be readily integrated into current curriculum and pedagogy within the discipline?

Yes, the website has an immense amount of resources for many math topics covered in high school math and beyond. A teacher can readily integrate the applets or puzzles as an extra visual aid in a lesson. Also, the teacher can include a link to the resources on his or her teacher webpage for students to use for extra help.

6. Can the software be used in a variety of ways to achieve teaching and learning goals?

Yes, as mentioned, the website contains a verbal explanation of the math topic, a related problem to answer, a puzzle to complete, and/or an applet to explore.

7. Are the teaching-learning goals easy to identify?

The topic of math is easily identified on the home page. However the goals are not listed up front. The user will have to open the link to see what the learning goal is.

8. Can good learning assignments for using the software application be written easily?

It will be easy for a teacher to add this resource to many lessons or create lessons around many of them.

Ease of Use:
1. Are the labels, buttons, menus, text, and general layout of the computer interface consistent and visually distinct?

The general layout is consistent and visually distinct. The left side of the page lists the topics of math, when you click on a topic the applets, problems, and puzzles are listed in alphabetical order. It also notes if the application uses Java, Flash, or html text.

2. Does the user get trapped in the material?

On the bottom of each page, there are navigation buttons that get you back to the pages you were previously on. It might be a good idea for the author to include these buttons on the top of the page as well since each page is lengthy.

3. Can the user get lost easily in the material?

It is a little overwhelming because there is so much material listed. It’s nice that is in alphabetical order in each strand of math, but it’s not broken down into different categories so you really have to look at the words in the whole title. You could also press ctrl+f to search for specific words you are looking for.

4. Does the module provide feedback about the system status and the user's responses?

In most lessons, problems, applets, and puzzles, there are solutions given, whether it is a written solution or displayed in the applet when a user gets the correct answer.

5. Does the module provide appropriate flexibility in its use?

Because there are various types of resources and applications, users have the flexibility to choose the most appropriate type of resource for their learning or their students’ learning.

6. Does the learning material require a lot of documentation, technical support, and/or instruction for most students to successfully use the software?

Not much documentation or technical support is needed for this software. The applications are generally straightforward and contain instructions on how to use them.

7. Does the material present information in ways that are familiar for students?

It depends on what types of applications the students are familiar with. As said, the applications include basic instructions on how to use them. Students would have to read and understand these instructions if they are not familiar with the application.

8. Does the material present information in ways that would be attractive to students?

If the teacher can pinpoint the specific applications he or she wants students to use, then yes. If a student is just looking through the website on his or her own, he or she might be overwhelmed by the amount of material. Plus, the website contains math concepts for college math as well, which would not be attractive to high school students.