Oelsner

From Better Practices

Wolfram Research recently released a major revision of Mathematica: Version 6. Of special interest to me are numerous controls that permit dynamic and interactive applets that can enhance our ability to create an active learning environment. My first effort was to rewrite a rational function graphing program to include controls.

The Before shows the static image produced by an earlier version of Mathematica.

The After image shows controls. Popup menues provide the functions I want students to consider. Display of asymptotes and holes is optional, and there is a zoom feature that gives a global perspective to illustrate end-point behavor. Wolfram has accepted this for publication at its Mathematica Demonstration Project, so I can link to it in a web page and students can download then manipulate it with the (free) Mathematica Player.

My next project was an applet to draw slope fields, with options to show the sample points and/or the one solution that satisfies an initial condition. The density of the line segments can be controled. Again, there is a popup menu for the diffeq I want students to consider. I will not waste screen space with a "before" picture, because it would have to be a blank page!