The project essentially relies on computer software to do away with some of the drudgery of algebra with a view to letting students undertake more meaningful work sooner, said James T. Fey, a professor of %8 curriculum and instruction at the University of Maryland’s college of education, who helped develop the new method. 8
“A lot of algebra amounts to taking fairly complex symbolic expressions and changing them into different forms,” he said. ! “That kind of stuff right now is " done routinely by computer 8# programs.”
The curriculum, which has % been under development since & 1985, has as its goal “to get #8' more kids able to use the process of algebra” and eventually to ) enroll in higher-math courses.
Traditionally, “it’s very late + in the game where kids can ), actually do some interesting applications of their mathematics,” he explained.
The new curriculum is being advertised on a trial basis to 1 the math community, Mr. Fey added.0
“What we’ve done is announce the availability to curriculum 5 supervisors, teacher-educators, and lead teachers,” he said. “I don’t 7 think that we’re talking about immediate, widespread use."9
The new text, while keyed to the ms\dos operating system, “is >8; somewhat generic with respect to hardware,” he said.
<>( The growth of partnerships ? between schools and businesses will be the subject of a one-day symposium scheduled by the International Society for Technology in Education in conjunction with the National cation Computing Conference.
The iste recently released a report, entitled “Vision:test (Technologically Enriched Schools of Tomorrow),” that calls for stronger alliances between schools and industry to enhance education reform.
The symposium, is scheduled for June 17 in Phoenix.
It will feature workshops on such topics as how to build effective and innovative partnerships and what businesses seek from effective partnerships.
For more information about fees, or to register for the
8 symposium, contact Camille Cole or Anita Best at iste, 1787 Agate St., Eugene, Ore., 97403; or call (503) 346-4414.--pw
