Middle School Moment

by Judy Ann Brown

Using the World Wide Web in the Middle School Classroom

The role of teacher is changing from dictator to guide, from sole presenter of information to the director of learning. The tools being used to assist in the process of learning are also changing. No longer will chalk boards and paper suffice. TV, VCR and computer equipment rapidly move in to share space with the old standards. Multi-media is the current trend and the World Wide Web is destined to become our constant companion.

Many teachers and administrators are afraid to test the waters because they have heard about the "sharks" lurking in the murky darkness. Fear can paralyze, especially fear that is not faced and conquered. The beneficial and educational material on the web far surpasses that which is unfavorable. The role of the teacher as director of learning is to steer students in a favorable direction. Students need guidance to learn how to distinguish valid sources from bogus sources of information.

Teachers also need help to find the best sources of information. To get started you need a computer with modem, an internet connection (Internet Service Provider or ISP) and a web browser (Netscape and Internet Explorer are two of the most popular). Find someone in your school or community who can help you make the needed connection. Then point your browser to the PCTM web page, the URL (Universal Resource Locator) is http://home.ptd.net/~pctm/main.html.

On the PCTM main page the tessellating hexagons constitute a map of the site. Pointing and clicking your mouse on one of the hexagons will take you to the corresponding site. Your choices are: Welcome To PCTM Online, PCTM Magazine, Conference & Inservice, PCTM Regional Affiliates, PCTM Puzzle of the Week, Talk Back to PCTM, and Other Math Links. You should explore each of these sites and visit them frequently as the information is constantly being updated.

The weekly problems posted in the"Puzzle of the Week" section are suitable for students in grades 6 through 12. Students are invited to solve the problems and post their answers using the form on each puzzle page. After two weeks, correct answers from students will be posted. If students to not have access to the internet, teachers can print copies of the puzzle for students to solve together in class and then post the students answers.

Math Links of particular interest to middle school teachers which can be accessed using the "Other Math Links" button on the PCTM page include "Mathematical Mac Tutor" and "AIMS Puzzle of the Month".The puzzles on the AIMS page are appropriate for middle school students. The Mac Tutor site contains a wealth of mathematical history including a mathematician of the day. This site has been the primary source I use to prepare calendars of birthdays of mathematicians for my students. Extra credit is awarded each month to students for doing a report on any mathematician born in that month. The calendars are available on line at <http://dimacs.rutgers.edu/~judyann/calendar/Calendar.html>.

There is also a link for an "Online Mathematics Dictionary" and the "MegaMath" site contains very worthwhile lessons in discrete mathematics. Another link will lead to the "MathCounts Home Page", MathCounts is a national program sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers for 7th and 8th grade students. The MathCounts site contains all the coaching materials distributed to participating school as well as MathCounts News, Forums for coaches, students and alumni, and a MathCounts store.

Other sites available on the internet worth investigating for middle school materials include:

1. Erdös for Kids <http://csr.uvic.ca/~mmania/>
2. POP Mathematics <http://archives.math.utk.edu/popmath.html>
3. Ask Dr. Math <http://forum.swarthmore.edu/dr.math/dr-math.html>
4. Eisenhower National Clearinghouse DCL <http://www.enc.org/>
5. NCTM STANDARDS <http://www.enc.org/online/NCTM/280dtoc1.html>
6. The Math Forum <http://forum.swarthmore.edu>
7. MetaCrawler Searching <http://metacrawler.cs.washington.edu:8080/index.htm>
   

As you explore the World Wide Web you will find that among the benefits of reading the PCTM Magazine on line is the ability to follow links mentioned in articles. Just point your browser to the PCTM Magazine at <http://home.ptd.net/~pctm/magazine.html> and then you will be able to access any of the sites mentioned in this article with a point and click.

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