Comments by those not attending the online session

From Better Practices

[edit] Comments by those not attending the online meeting

[edit] from Jon Choate, 11-5-07

I will not be able to join the session due to the fact that I will be out of the country. I have several things in the works that may be of interest. I have been teaching a seminar that is focusing on applications of linear algebra. The class will be producing a web site that will use basic vector techniques to show some of the following: an algebraic approach to the plane isometries and how they combine using Mathematica, the geometry of solving 2 x 2 linear systems using Gaussian elimination and Tetrahedral Geometry using Cabri 3D v. 2 and Mathematica. Sorry I won't be able to join you. I'm also working on a SketchUp book and hope to put together a JOMA article on SketchUp and maybe Cabri 3D.

[edit] from Chuck Oelsner, 11-19-07

I am sorry that I cannot participate, but this is the exact time that I am teaching a Calculus class here in Albuquerque at the Central New Mexico Community College. I want to keep in touch through this missive.

For years I have used Mathematica as my graphics editor for class notes, web pages and tests. I have been able to use WebMathematica for interactive visualizations via the Web by my students. A sample of this is available at [this site].

I was delighted when Version 6 of Mathematica with extensive dynamic capability became available this spring, shortly before our Washington workshop. I have written numerous visualizations to enhance my class presentations, and Wolfram Research has a demonstration site with over 2000 examples available for download. A few of my efforts are published there.

The downloadable demonstrations are *.nbp files, called “playable,” and able to be viewed and manipulated with the free “mathematica player.” A few weeks ago, Wolfram Research made available a service letting mathematica users convert their notebooks to playable nbp files. You send them the notebook and they quickly return it in nbp form.

This is coming close to the open source ideal, letting students utilize our manipulatives without buying Mathematica. Someone who owns Mathematica can download the source code for the demonstrations, alter the code, then have Wolfram make it a nbp file.

Wolfram Research plans to soon offer a “pro” version of the Mathematica Player software that will allow a user to make their own nbp files without going through Wolfram. The Pro version will not be free.

Is anyone else in this group using Mathematica and developing manipulatives?