Math & Computer Education Review of Algebra I HomeworkTutor
Math & Computer Education
Copyright © Fall, '90
For students requesting extra assistance in
Algebra class, a useful software alternative
to the human tutor has been recently
developed by Missing Link Software. The
Algebra I Homework Tutor is an interactive
tutoring program designed to help students
with their basic algebra homework. The
program uses systematic hints to lead
students through an unlimited set of basic
examples and problems. The program also
provides the capability to enter student
generated problems to assist students
working with a standard textbook. This
easy to use program runs on any
Macintosh computer with at least 512K of
memory.
The program includes a wide selection of
basic algebra topics including simplification
of expressions, solution of equations and
inequalities, and general factoring.
Students can select from a wide variety of
randomly generated problems for each of
these topics, or enter similar problems of
their own. The program interactively
checks the student's work, and provides a
series of hints when the student gets stuck.
The program's hints are detailed and get
increasingly more specific upon incorrect
responses by the student. The systematic
step-by-step illustration of each solution is
an especially nice feature of the program,
and permits the student to receive very
specific feedback while working through the
examples and problems.
The program includes a customized math
editor which provides automatic formatting
for the algebra expressions that students
enter. The editor actively interprets what
the student is typing and raises exponents
and expands parentheses as needed. The
standard Macintosh Cut, Copy, Paste,
Clear, and Undo editing functions are also
available, although the student does not...
Copyright © Fall, '90
For students requesting extra assistance in
Algebra class, a useful software alternative
to the human tutor has been recently
developed by Missing Link Software. The
Algebra I Homework Tutor is an interactive
tutoring program designed to help students
with their basic algebra homework. The
program uses systematic hints to lead
students through an unlimited set of basic
examples and problems. The program also
provides the capability to enter student
generated problems to assist students
working with a standard textbook. This
easy to use program runs on any
Macintosh computer with at least 512K of
memory.
The program includes a wide selection of
basic algebra topics including simplification
of expressions, solution of equations and
inequalities, and general factoring.
Students can select from a wide variety of
randomly generated problems for each of
these topics, or enter similar problems of
their own. The program interactively
checks the student's work, and provides a
series of hints when the student gets stuck.
The program's hints are detailed and get
increasingly more specific upon incorrect
responses by the student. The systematic
step-by-step illustration of each solution is
an especially nice feature of the program,
and permits the student to receive very
specific feedback while working through the
examples and problems.
The program includes a customized math
editor which provides automatic formatting
for the algebra expressions that students
enter. The editor actively interprets what
the student is typing and raises exponents
and expands parentheses as needed. The
standard Macintosh Cut, Copy, Paste,
Clear, and Undo editing functions are also
available, although the student does not...
(cont'd)
need to be familiar with these functions
to effectively use the editor. Even
fractions, radicals, and absolute value
can be handled fairly effectively,
although some practice is needed for
more complicated expressions.The
program also includes some
customized calculator functions that let
students use an exploratory approach
to factoring trinomials, finding the
greatest common factor, and finding
the least common multiple. Additional
features of the program include the
ability to save work, print, and
use....enlarged type. The enlarged
type is an especially nice feature for
instructors who wish to use the
package as a classroom
demonstration tool. The only real
difficulties with using the program
occur when entering student
generated problems rather than those
generated by the program. Some of
the more specialized symbols, such as
the absolute value and radical sign,
require combinations of key strokes,
when some type of a pull down menu
would probably have been preferable.
However, a help screen is available to
remind the student of the special key
combinations needed. Algebra I
Homework Tutor is a good choice for
students who need some additional
assistance with Algebra or as an
enhancement to a regular textbook.
The program can also be an especially
useful resource to math tutors working
with algebra students. It puts students
in control of their own learning, but
provides the periodic assistance
needed to keep them on track and
moving forward - a nice instructional
mix for the classroom.
need to be familiar with these functions
to effectively use the editor. Even
fractions, radicals, and absolute value
can be handled fairly effectively,
although some practice is needed for
more complicated expressions.The
program also includes some
customized calculator functions that let
students use an exploratory approach
to factoring trinomials, finding the
greatest common factor, and finding
the least common multiple. Additional
features of the program include the
ability to save work, print, and
use....enlarged type. The enlarged
type is an especially nice feature for
instructors who wish to use the
package as a classroom
demonstration tool. The only real
difficulties with using the program
occur when entering student
generated problems rather than those
generated by the program. Some of
the more specialized symbols, such as
the absolute value and radical sign,
require combinations of key strokes,
when some type of a pull down menu
would probably have been preferable.
However, a help screen is available to
remind the student of the special key
combinations needed. Algebra I
Homework Tutor is a good choice for
students who need some additional
assistance with Algebra or as an
enhancement to a regular textbook.
The program can also be an especially
useful resource to math tutors working
with algebra students. It puts students
in control of their own learning, but
provides the periodic assistance
needed to keep them on track and
moving forward - a nice instructional
mix for the classroom.
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