Session 1
We will focus on creating a document that uses Mathematica's organizational structures (Sections, Subsections, Text, Math, etc), collapsable groups, typeset mathematics (inline and display math), highlighting tools (font colors, background colors, cell frames, etc.) to create a very nice looking document combining text and mathematics. We will even cover how to include hyperlinks to other places in a notebook, another notebook, or a web address within a notebook. Mathematica can typeset any sort of mathematical structure - there is no need for MathType, or Equation Editor. Any document created with Mathematica can be shared with people who do not have the software - either as a pdf file or as a Mathematica notebook that can be read with the freely available Mathematica Player software. We will use the Mathematica Assistant palette to learn how to write efficiently in Mathematica.
A document without graphs and/or interactive visuals may not be too exciting, but being comfortable writing in Mathematica is very important to using the software in more innovative ways that bring interactivity to learning materials.
Walla Walla: Wednesday, 2/13/2008, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Room 207
Clarkston: Tuesday, 2/19/2008, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, WWCC Clarkston Branch
Session 2
We will build on the writing skills introduced in Session 1, which combined with Mathematica's slide show capabilities allow us to create a notebook ready to be used in the classroom. Mathematica's screen environments and slide show controls will be introduced. We will use ready to go interactive visuals to do in Mathematica what can only be imagined in other presentation tools. Give some thought for a lesson that you would really like to be able to support with dynamic visuals.
A collection of interactive visuals are provided in a downloadable notebook for this sessions. The provided visuals focus on linear equations.
Walla Walla: Wednesday, 2/20/2008, 4:00 to 6:00 pm Room 207
Clarkston: Monday, 2/25/2008, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, WWCC Clarkston Branch.
Session 3
* Introduce the Mathematica palette ExamWriting along with sample tests to demonstrate how to use Mathematica to help create and write problems for problem sheets, quizzes, and tests.
* New visuals. Start learning how to use Manipulate to make graphs interactive. Mathematica's interactive capabilities are built on top of all of the normal commands used for calculating, creating plots, graphics, etc. Hopefully everyone will have worked through Pepe's Mathematica Tutorial by now so we can move into the creation of interactive visuals.
Clarkston: Monday, 3/3/2008, 6:00 to 8:00, WWCC Clarkston Branch
Walla Walla: Wednesday, 3/12/2008, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Room 207
Session 4
* Creating graphs that can be made interactive with Mathematica's Manipulate command - functions, polar equations, parametric equations, implicit relations, inequalities, and scatterplots are all supported by the Mathematica Assistant palette. The tutorial 1.4 Introduction to 2D Graphing would be suggested reading prior to this session. Most all of the commands in the tutorial can be created using the Mathematica Assistant palette so it is not necessary to focus on the command syntax (the Mathematica Assistant palette did not exist when the graphing tutorial was written). Focus on the types of things that can be plotted and how the look of the plot elements can be set. We'll bring graphs to life as interactive visuals in the session.
* New visuals will be shared that build on the material presented in the session. Student activities or presentation material can be built around the visuals to make them ready to use in the classroom and with students.
Clarkston: Monday, 3/17/2008, 6:00 to 8:00, WWCC Clarkston Branch
Walla Walla: Wednesday, 3/19/2008, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Room 207