The Learning Equation: Multimedia courses
Business need
The four western Canadian provinces and two territories had a goal to create mathematics software to help students learn better, help teachers manage class and curriculum, and improve student achievement in math.
Nelson Canada, an educational publisher, proposed to partner with the provinces to create the software. The provinces demanded a working prototype as proof of Nelson's capability. Nelson needed an impressive interactive prototype, and they needed it by a very short deadline.
Alantext solution
I had clear ideas about the nature of the software and the sort of navigation and interactivity required to make it easy to use, engaging and educationally effective. This was based on my work with teachers and curricula when I was a mathematics publisher.
I worked with a math editor to establish the structure and flow of each lesson, the key modules ("hands-on" lesson opener, interactive tutorial, etc.) and the nature of the interactivity. I directed a multimedia design firm who did the actual programming.
Key features included:
- Persistent, easy navigation to jump to any part of the course.
- Progressive levels of hints for complex questions.
- Real world puzzles, problems and examples.
- A "hands-on" interactive problem or game to open each lesson and challenge students.
- Examples comprised of modelled solutions, that provide the framework while requiring students to execute or answer each individual step.
- Lesson summary that revisits the interactive opener and enables student to apply the math learned in the lesson.
- Large number of progressively challenging exercises and problems.
- Self-checks that allow students to test their learning.
The prototype was enthusiastically received by staff at four provincial Ministries of Education, the six-province Project Management Committee and the Assistant Deputy Ministers of the six provinces. This was sufficient proof of the validity of the concept, and this lead to an agreement between the six provinces and Nelson.
Ultimately the prototype served as a model from which the commercial TLE Math courseware was developed. Two independent university studies concluded that use of TLE Math leads to improved student performance.
“This is exactly what we've been waiting for — high-quality software that matches the math curriculum and is designed to meet a variety of student learning needs!”
Edna Dach, Director of Technology Services, Elk Island Public Schools, Alberta.
“It gave me a new insight into my role as a teacher. The results were excellent, the students were enthusiastic — a win-win situation.”
Rod Rysen, Math Teacher, Kalamalka Secondary School, Vernon, B.C.
“I really like doing math this way. It's actually fun to do math. I get something wrong and the computer tells me where to look.”
Ashley, grade 9 student, Sir John A. Macdonald Jr. High, Calgary.