FluidMath Supplemental Content for Algebra Learning

描述（由申请人提供）：本文提出的第二阶段研究和开发工作的总体目标是将FluidMath的核心示例问题库商业化，使用这些问题将增加学生对基本数学原理的理解并提高他们的数学考试成绩。Fluidity Software，Inc. FluidMath开发了一个教育软件平台，使教师和学生能够通过自己手写的数学符号和草图，在平板电脑或交互式白板（IWB）的屏幕上使用电子笔创建，解决，绘制和动画数学问题。Fluidity最近发布了FluidMath的第1版，用作基础代数课程的干预。在与第二阶段提案相关的研究的第一阶段，Fluidity为FluidMath构建了原型核心示例问题，其中包括教师推荐的功能，这些功能优化了FluidMath的教学功能。课堂上使用这些示例问题影响了学生对数学原理的理解，并提高了学生的成绩，这一点通过更高的考试成绩得到了证明。涉及8名教师和229名学生的第一阶段试点研究证明了使用FluidMath软件作为平台的可行性，在该平台上，基本代数特定功能和内容可以分层并用于课堂教学。在第一阶段，当教师在课堂上解决示例问题时，优化了FluidMath平台的教学功能，学生在数学课上的参与度得到了提高，他们的数学成绩平均比用其他方法教学时提高了约10%。在第二阶段，Fluidity将与莱斯利大学的项目评估和研究小组（PERG）合作，与大约36名教师和大约1200名学生合作，并在成功完成的第一阶段的基础上，开发一个商业级的用FluidMath解决的代数示例问题库。在第二阶段，研究和开发团队将迭代开发每个示例问题，并通过部署具有新功能和用户界面（UI）技术的示例问题来评估其研究和开发工作，以接收教师在课堂上使用这些问题对学生影响的实时反馈。本文提出的产品，一个银行的核心示例问题，用于教学基础代数使用FluidMath，将提供内容的FluidMath旨在提高学生的表现。该银行将包括约75个核心问题，包括软件开发人员，数学教育专家，专家教师和实践数学教师创建的解决方案和解释。问题库将涵盖基本代数课程，并将包括适合销售给初中和高中教师和学生并广泛使用的商业级软件。在第二阶段结束时，Fluidity将拥有一个适合广泛使用的强大产品，由于其独特的功能，有可能振兴我国学校的数学教学，提高学生的数学成绩。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective of the Phase II research and development work proposed herein is to commercialize a bank of core example problems for FluidMath, the use of which will increase student understanding of basic math principles and improve their scores on math tests. Fluidity Software, Inc., developed FluidMath as an educational software platform which enables teachers and students to create, solve, graph and animate math problems using an electronic stylus on the screen of a Tablet PC or an Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) via their own hand-written math symbols and sketches. Fluidity recently released Version 1 of FluidMath for use as an intervention for basic algebra curricula. In Phase I of the study linked to this Phase II proposal, Fluidity built prototype core example problems for FluidMath that included teacher recommended functionality which optimized the didactic features of FluidMath. Classroom use of these example problems impacted student understanding of math principles and improved student performance as demonstrated by higher test scores. Phase I pilot studies involving 8 teachers and 229 students proved the feasibility of using FluidMath software as a platform upon which basic algebra specific functionality and content can be layered and used for teaching in the classroom. In Phase I, it was shown that when teachers solve example problems in class which optimize the didactic features of the FluidMath platform, student participation in math classes improved and their math scores, on average, increased by about 10% compared to when they were taught with other means. In Phase II, Fluidity, collaborating with the Program Evaluation and Research Group (PERG) at Lesley University, will work with about 36 teachers and about 1200 students and build on a successfully completed Phase I by developing a commercial-grade bank of algebra example problems solved with FluidMath. During Phase II, the research and development team will iteratively develop each example problem and evaluate its research and development work by deploying the example problems with new features and user interface (UI) techniques to receive real-time feedback on student impact from the teachers using these problems in their classes. The product proposed herein, A Bank of Core Example Problems for Teaching Basic Algebra using FluidMath, will provide content for FluidMath aimed at improving student performance. The bank will include about 75 core problems comprising solutions and explanations created by software developers, math education experts, expert teachers and practicing math teachers. The bank of problems will cover basic algebra curricula and will comprise commercial grade software suitable for sale to, and widespread use by, middle and high school teachers and students. At the end of Phase II, Fluidity will have a robust product suitable for widespread use that, because of its unique functionality, has the potential to revitalize the teaching of math in our nation's schools and improve students' math scores.