Published in Acta Didactica Napocensia, volume 3 number 2, 1 June 2010
Enhancing Mathematical Communication for Virtual Math Teams
Gerry Stahl, College of Information Science & Technology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Murat Perit , College of Information Science & Technology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Stephen Weimar, The Math Forum, Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Baba Kofi Weusijana, The Math Forum, Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Jimmy Xiantong Ou, The Math Forum, Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Abstract: The
Math Forum is an online resource center for pre-algebra, algebra, geometry and
pre-calculus. Its Virtual Math Teams (VMT) service provides an integrated
web-based environment for small teams of people to discuss math and to work
collaboratively on math problems or explore interesting mathematical
micro-worlds together. The VMT Project studies the online math discourse that
takes place during sessions of virtual math teams working on open-ended
problem-solving tasks. In particular, it investigates methods of group
cognition that are employed by teams in this setting. The VMT environment
currently integrates social networking, synchronous text chat, a shared
whiteboard for drawing, web browsers and an asynchronous wiki for exchanging
findings within the larger community. A simple version of MathML is supported
in the whiteboard, chat and wiki for displaying mathematical expressions. The VMT
Project is currently integrating the dynamic mathematics application, GeoGebra,
into its collaboration environment. This will create a multi-user version of
GeoGebra, which can be used in concert with the chat, web browsers, curricular
topics and wiki repository.
Key words: Dynamic mathematics, VMT, Math Forum, group cognition, GeoGebra
Pages 101-114. Download PDF