Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 1st, 2005 – MathResources Inc. in concert with Carey Bolster and Bill Masalski is engaged in producing a Middle School Mathematics program that will move students to a more interactive instructional program. Carey, the early architect of the Interactive School Mathematics (ISM) program, feels that students learn mathematics better when they interact with instructional materials. Technology can provide for greater student interaction. He provides the following humorous insight:

“If Rip Van Winkle woke up today after his 20-year long sleep, he would be astounded at the changes that have occurred. Developments in transportation, means of communication, and other areas of life have improved through the rigorous application of technology. Rip would be both puzzled and stimulated. But upon entering the math classroom, with the exception of a few calculators and computers scattered around, Rip would think that it still closely resembles the type of learning he had in school.

Unfortunately, technology in education is still an add-on to most existing programs and therefore is not being used to its potential. Materials currently at the core of the teaching and learning process are designed for directed learning thereby keeping the focus on the student as a recipient of information rather than an experimenter.”

As educators, we know it is the students’ interaction with the content that encourages thinking, exploring and internalizing important mathematical ideas. So, we ask ourselves… is there a better way to help kids learn?

Yes, there is!

Interactive School Mathematics (ISM) has fused technology and mathematics content during the crucial grades six (6) through eight (8). The design and construction of ISM is based on the NCTM Standards and predicated on the technological delivery of the program. This allows for a high level of interaction between the student and the program, the teacher and the program, and the student and the teacher.

Tools for learning math are built into ISM! Students have a virtual mathematics tool belt that can be used at any time. There is no need to buy a graphing calculator; one is available for use on every screen. Students interact with the content using the specially designed mathematics-driven applets and can interact with as many of the randomly generated examples as they wish, as well as make up their own examples, until they demonstrate and articulate that they are competent in the skills or concepts being developed. Each lesson has warm-up activities and worksheets that can be completed directly onscreen or on downloaded-and-printed pages. By formally answering check-your-understanding questions in their electronic journals, a permanent record of student understanding is recorded and available to both the individual student and teacher.

Teachers are aided through teacher notes that can be accessed directly from within the student lesson.

It is extremely important that teachers continue to rely on their classroom experience. While we have created a new environment we have not done so at the expense of the teacher. Ron Fitzgerald, President of MathResources, describes his company’s basic motto in developing all of their software products as being “evolutionary, not revolutionary.” “Many great and some not so great products have floundered because they required far too much professional development and did not rely on the experience and expertise of the classroom teacher. ISM is designed to work in the classroom with a minimum investment of time on the part of the user, either teacher or student. We are not interested in re-inventing how teachers teach; we are extremely dedicated to enhancing the teaching and learning experience through the use of technology.”

Above all ISM, Interactive School Mathematics, is built on a solid curriculum that fuses content and technology and is designed to improve student confidence and competence. There is a better way, and ISM is that way!

For More Information on Interactive School Mathematics:

A presentation entitled “Interactive School Mathematics: Tapping into the Way Students Really Learn,” will take place Friday, April the 8th from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm in Room 204C of the Anaheim Convention Center.

Piloting of the ISM mathematics program will begin this fall.

Dr. William Masalski - General Editor of the Interactive School Mathematics Program

Dr. Masalski is the Editor of the NCTM 2005 Yearbook Technology-Supported Mathematics Learning Environments. He has held many prestigious positions over his long and distinguished career including: past president of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England (ATMNE), Editor Emeritus of the New England Mathematics Journal and Professor Emeritus of mathematics education and educational technology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He also led the software development efforts for Mathemagica, a project of the JASON Foundation for Education ( http://www.jason.org/ ), funded through the Stars Schools program of the United States Department of Education.

Dr. Carey Bolster – Architect of the Interactive School Mathematics Program

Dr. Bolster is the President of Bolster Education and is currently serving as the Mathematics Content Director for the hit PBS cartoon series Cyberchase. He has held many prestigious positions over his long and distinguished career including: past president of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, Director of PBS Mathline, an author on several math textbook series and the author of many articles on the teaching and learning of mathematics.

About MathResources Inc.

www.mathresources.com

MathResources founded in 1996 develops educational math software for K-12 and college markets. Constantly striving to find simple, elegant and practical ways to use the power of technology to make math come to life for students on desktops, laptops and handheld computers, they are highly regarded by leading educators and mathematicians within North America.