[kde-edu]: An idea for a new application.

[Anne-Marie Mahfouf]

Hi,

Yes, thanks a lot, I can see now what you mean.
And this looks outside the scope of KAlgebra indeed!

However to avoid wasting time and energy I encourage you to:
- design the app roughly (GUI, features,...) and have a clear TODO
- work in KDE playground as soon as possible
- gather the other people interested

Please let us know about your plans!

Anne-Marie

On Tuesday 12 June 2007 09:00:35 ajdlinux at gmail.com wrote:
> On 6/12/07, Anne-Marie Mahfouf <annemarie.mahfouf at free.fr> wrote:
> > Can you precise exactly what the program you have in mind should do
> > please? I
> > have trouble to see what you mean by "the average junior (yrs 7-10) high
> > school student", can you precise the student age?
>
> Right, you're not from where I come from :)
>
> Years 7-10 in Australia would be roughly 13-16 years old. In my state
> algebra is taught through all those years.
>
> What I think such an app would do: essentially be an algebra tutor,
> allowing a student to experiment with simple algebraic equations, ie.
> set variables, swap things around, a graphical expression constructor,
> etc.
>
> To give you an idea of what is taught in high schools out here:
> http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_sc/pdf_doc/mathematics_710_sy
>llabus.pdf
>
> Summary of Patterns and Algebra Outcomes for Stages 2 to 5
>
> 2.1     Generates, describes and records number patterns using a
> variety of strategies and completes simple number sentences by
> calculating missing values (p 79)
> 3.1a    Records, analyses and describes geometric and number patterns
> that involve one operation using tables and words (p 80)
> 3.1b    Constructs, verifies and completes number sentences involving
> the four operations with a variety of numbers (p 81)
> 4.1     Uses letters to represent numbers and translates between words
> and algebraic symbols (p 82)
> 4.2     Creates, records, analyses and generalises number patterns
> using words and algebraic symbols in a variety of ways (p 83)
> Algebraic Techniques
> 4.3     Uses the algebraic symbol system to simplify, expand and
> factorise simple algebraic expressions (p 85)
> 4.4     Uses algebraic techniques to solve linear equations and simple
> inequalities (p 86)
> 5.1.1 Applies the index laws to simplify algebraic expressions (p 87)
> 5.2.1 Simplifies, expands and factorises algebraic expressions
> involving fractions and negative and fractional indices (p 88)
> 5.2.2 Solves linear and simple quadratic equations, solves linear
> inequalities and solves simultaneous equations using graphical and
> analytical methods (p 90)
> 5.3.1 Uses algebraic techniques to simplify expressions, expand
> binomial products and factorise quadratic expressions (p 92)
> 5.3.2 Solves linear, quadratic and simultaneous equations, solves and
> graphs inequalities, and rearranges literal equations (p 94)
>
> ((c) 2003 Copyright Board of Studies NSW for and on behalf of the
> Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, fair dealing of
> course)
>
> An app like the one I would like to see would step through topics and
> ask students questions about them, letting them experiment. It would
> be more than just a calculator. (Of course it wouldn't be specific to
> a particular syllabus or course, but I'm just quoting from what I
> know.)