Calculators

It is assumed that all MathScape students will have access to scientific calculators for daily work. Graphing calculators, on the other hand, are not required for any of the regular curriculum activities. For students who are proficient in using them, many units contain suggestions for ways to incorporate graphing calculators to reinforce concepts or extend student thinking.

Computer Software

MathScape students can use computer software in several ways. With one exception, computer software is used as an optional (but valuable) way to extend the materials in the curriculum; the exception is a seventh grade unit, Getting Down to Business, that requires use of a spreadsheet application -- in this unit, students work with spreadsheets to explore functional relationships and multiple representations. Computer software use is optional in all other units. Many units contain suggestions for ways to use specific pieces of software in conjunction with the materials in the unit. Using these suggestions, it is possible to incorporate spreadsheet software, drawing programs, geometry software, and visualizing applications into the MathScape program. In addition, several pieces of innovative software were designed specifically to go with certain MathScape units; further information about this software can be obtained by contacting the MathScape Curriculum Center.

World Wide Web

In addition to using computer software to reinforce concepts and extend student thinking, the curriculum contains suggestions for how the Web might used to make individual units more effective. Pointers are given to Web sites where teachers and students can gather data of particular interest to them and find information on topics in other disciplines that serve as backdrops for MathScape units. For example, consider the eighth grade unit, What Comes Next?, that uses population growth data to introduce students to various mathematical models of growth. This unit contains URLs of Web sites that have data on growth in specific populations so that students can apply their knowledge of mathematical modeling to populations of particular interest to them. In addition, there are pointers to Web sites that provide information about population growth issues so that students can link their studies in mathematics with social studies and see the value and utility of mathematics in other fields of study.

Everyday Technology

Some units also contain recommendations for using everyday technology to elucidate mathematical concepts. For instance, to more deeply engage with the concept of scaling in the sixth grade unit, Gulliver's Worlds, it is recommended that students investigate the reduce/enlarge feature on copy machines and experiment with using an overhead projector to enlarge images onto screens. To supplement the regular unit activities in What Comes Next?, it is suggested that students view a seven-minute video that uses a map and an ever-increasing array of dots to create a visual model of population growth.