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The Lurch Project
A word processor that checks your math Nathan Carter Bentley University
The Lurch Project A word processor that checks your math Nathan - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Lurch Project A word processor that checks your math Nathan - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Lurch Project A word processor that checks your math Nathan Carter Bentley University Classic board game Modern game Modern game Modern game Modern game Contrast Classic board Modern video games games require reading and teach
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Modern game
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Modern game
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Modern game
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Modern game
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Contrast
Classic board games require reading and memorizing before play can begin Modern video games teach rules without requiring players to jump these hurdles
What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy
James Paul Gee, MacMillan, 2003
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Relevance to Math
- Teaching math involves teaching rules.
- Computers handle rules ably in many ways.
- Computers can provide learning environments
that let the user experience mathematical rules.
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Category: Software for Experiencing Rules
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Category: Software for Experiencing Rules
Fitch
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Category: Software for Experiencing Rules
xyAlgebra
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Category: Software for Experiencing Rules
- Not computational
Maple does math; these check math.
- Not a homework-grading system
WeBWorK checks answers when you submit; these check steps as you work.
- Not a “proof assistant”
Coq helps automate the proving process; these are educational tools.
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Advantages
- Students encounter the rules of mathematics in a
virtual environment capable of giving feedback
- Negative feedback can stop bad habits before
they start
- Positive feedback can encourage those who
lack confidence in the right answers
- Virtual environments encourage experimentation
and exploration
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Disadvantages
- Most software in this space is disparate applets
- Each is for a single purpose, and has its own
idiosyncrasies and learning curve
- Each must reinvent some “wheels”
(document structure, math input, math typesetting, file format that preserves semantics, save, print, share, etc.)
- Missing features
- Pre-determined notation, style, rules, etc.
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The Lurch Project
- Open-source software, free in every way
- Simple math word processor
with the validation you choose
- Has some built-in math topics
(logic, algebra, derivatives, etc.)
- Extensible to new math topics
- Simply type in new rules
(equation-based topics only for now)
- Programming in Javascript (most flexible)
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Built-in topic: Algebra
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Built-in topic: Algebra
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Built-in topic: Prop. Logic
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Example Document
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Example Document
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Example Document
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Example Document
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Example Document
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Example Document
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Example Document
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Example Document
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Demo
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Category: Software for Experiencing Rules
Goal: Lurch can redefine this category, making it much more effective.
- Any mathematician should be able to
create new math topics in Lurch for their students to experience.
- Instructors should be able to share a
library of such math topics.
- This should be as similar as possible to
doing math on paper or the chalkboard.
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Get Involved
- Download Lurch, try it,
and send feedback.
- Join our email list.
- Give some assignments
that use Lurch, and send us students’ feedback.
- Do development:
Either write and share math topics or help write Lurch itself.
- Supervise student
developers: We have supervised 7 math and/or CS undergrads so far, 2 of them remotely.
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One Year From Today
- Regional mini-conferences AY 2011-2012
- Both introductory and advanced content
- Meet other users and developers
- Way to get started in Lurch development
- Developers meet and work side-by-side
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Lurch Website
- Download Lurch (free, open source)
- Join the email list
- Contact us by email
- Learn how to become a developer