Mathematica-Based Spanish Courseware Available
CompuMat provides an new interactive Mathematica-based text
series, which was the first such courseware for use in teaching
mathematics at Spanish-speaking universities. This powerful
mathematics tool was initially developed as part of a
federal-government-supported project for the improvement of science
teaching and is the result of a successful three-year pilot experience
at Cuyo University in Argentina.
The interactive Mathematica-based text series addresses the
introductory subjects of linear algebra, calculus in one or more
variables, and differential and recurrence equations. Inspired in part
by the innovative, award-winning Calculus&Mathematica
series by Math Everywhere, the courseware enables students to
experiment and explain the results of their experimentation
"discovering and doing math." Designed to teach students useful
mathematics tools in an interesting and motivating way, it encourages
active participation by students, as well as teachers, in a completely
Spanish environment.
Using the flexible Mathematica interface and extensive program
capabilities, students are able to do the following:
- Work with symbolic expressions
- Work with a great number of functions, with the precision
indicated by the user (including infinite precision)
- Draw and animate in two and three dimensions, choosing point of
view and coordinate system
- Program in any of three methods
- Procedural programming (using blocks, loops and cycles,
recursion)
- Functional programming (able to define pure functions,
functional operators)
- Rule-based programming (supplying rules that indicate how to
operate or transform the symbolical expressions, functions, etc.)
- Create interactive documents, including text, graphics, sound, and
animation
- Automatically translate text and graphics from Mathematica
to PostScript or other format, permitting an interchange with other
programs
Claudia Guzner, one of
the courseware developers, expected it to gain wide acceptance in both
state and private universities not only in Argentina but also in other
Spanish-speaking countries. Says Guzner, "This product is the first of
its kind to be created specifically for use in the mathematics
education of Spanish students. The mere translation of
other Mathematica courseware (like Math Everywhere) is
inappropriate, due principally to deep differences between the Latin
American and U.S. cultures."
The Spanish series presents students with a strong, unified vision
between mathematics and its applications, while at the same time
developing the students' problem-solving capabilities and providing
them with indispensable tools for their future professional
work. Furthermore, the adaptability and flexibility of the courseware
make it well suited for use in both internet-based and long-distance
learning courses.
To get further information or to order, please contact CompuMat
directly.
CompuMat
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo
Facultad de Ciencias Económicas
Dpto. de Disciplinas Matemáticas
CompuMat
Centro Universitario - Parque General San Martín
C.P. 5500 - Mendoza
ARGENTINA
phone: +54-(0)261-423-6000, ext. 2485
fax: +54-(0)261-423-2779 (Attention: Dpto. de Disciplinas Matemáticas - CompuMat)
email: compumat@fcemail.uncu.edu.ar
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