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For Students

How to Use this Module

Project Links modules feature several navigation schemes to help you move easily through the material:

  1. Content Navigation (Left Hand Column)
  2. The left hand navigation column is considered the content navigation for the module. Clicking through the list of headings in this column will take you to most of the conceptual material in the module. A brown triangular icon indicates the current page appearing in the main frame area.

    A few modules have Tracks, as does this sample view. These are essentially parallel threads through the subject matter. In this example view the current track is in red, and the alternate track is in light blue. Pages common to both tracks (such as "Objectives") will have the track icons grayed out.

    We recommend using the functionality navigation (see below) as well as the content navigation to get the best results.

    In addition to the content titles, there are four buttons in the left hand column:

    • cribsheet - a summary of important concepts and formulas used in the current module;
    • library - a list of the multimedia elements and major concept pages included in the module and a link to the site-wide glossary;
    • map - a conceptual map of the module material;
    • help - this help file.

  3. Functionality Navigation (Top Row)
  4. The links at the top represent various functionalities of our module format. These links allow you to navigate the more interactive portions of the module and experience the material in new and different ways. The navigation bar contains the following links:

    concepts is the section where most of the concepts are explained.

    discover is the section where you'll be asked to do something: modify parameters in a simulation and notice the changes in the system, experiment with a Java applet, or watch a video of a real-time experiment.

    applications is the section that explains how theoretical material can be applied to real-world situations.

    collaborate is the section where you can chat with your classmates or your instructors about tough questions that are raised throughout the module. These can be face-to-face discussions, or can use the chat applet (when implemented). The chat applet discussions can be archived for later reference.

    practice is the section that tests (either through pencil and paper or on-screen problems) how well you're learning the concepts presented.

    The current functionality page will appear saturated with brown color, and will have a brown triangular icon. If the functionalities are available from the current content area the links at top will appear fully colored in blue. Functionalities that are unavailable will be grayed out.

    In the example above, the user is in the CONCEPTS section, the DISCOVER, COLLABORATE, and PRACTICE sections are available from the current page, and the APPLICATIONS section is unavailable.

    Generally, the titles in the left-hand navigation will take you to the CONCEPTS section for that content area, although that is not always the case. Occasionally, the module developers might want you to go another functionality first.
    We recommend that you explore all the available functionalities in the top navigation bar before moving on to the next content section in the left-hand column.

  5. Prior and Next Buttons
  6. The PRIOR and NEXT buttons (in the top left corner of your screen) represent the path through the material that the module developers thought was most appropriate. You can be sure to cover all the material in a logical manner if you simply press the forward button from beginning to end.

Logic of the Module

By combining concept and functionality navigation in our modules, we hope to allow you to navigate each module in a way that is comfortable and intuitive to you, but also challenges you to look at the material from many different angles and interact with the concepts in a variety of ways. We also hope to provide more than a "textbook on screen" by creating spaces that are conducive to learning through guided discovery. By using several navigation schemes, we hope to make all the information as readily accessible as possible.

For Instructors

Pedagogical Features

Each module is designed to be used in at least two courses: a math course and a non-math course.

One of the primary goals of this project is to more closely integrate mathematics into engineering and science topics in the classroom. As a result, each module must be designed to be used in both a math course and a non-math course.

Modules are designed to be used in a workshop or studio classroom environment.

This statement has several implications. One implication is that an instructor, professor or teaching assistant is assumed to be present in the classroom. This is absolutely essential as modules contain specific references to discussing problems with classmates, turning in pencil and paper problems to the instructor, and others. Modules do, however, contain exercises and problems which could possibly be completed as homework outside the classroom.

It is important to note, however, that Project Links modules are not intended to be accessed by someone in a remote location with no access to an authority such as the instructor.

Another implication is that the ideal environment is one or two students per computer in the classroom. These modules are intended to be a resource for studio or workshop instructors and as such, are designed to be used in these types of environments. Of course it's possible to use them in other situations, for example, one computer per 70 students. However, the mode of instruction under these conditions will likely be very different.

Modules are course materials that fit into existing courses.

Modules constitute anywhere from a portion of one class period to several class periods. It is important to know that modules are not designed to span an entire course or even an entire subject area. It is not the intent of Project Links that you redesign your courses around these materials. Just the opposite is true: these materials are being designed to fit into existing, general courses.

Integrating Modules into the Classroom

Project Links modules are not meant to be a textbook on screen, but rather to serve more like a laboratory: a place for learning through guided discovery. As such, we suggest that you use the modules in ways that foster collaboration, discussion, and experimentation. Each module is different, but for example, you could begin a class by giving a short lecture on the topic of the module, then have students play with an applet from the module - modifying parameters and noticing changes in the system, then point them towards the theory section of the module, then stop to discuss the question in the discussion section, then have them complete the exercises on-screen or on paper. There are many ways the modules can be used, but their purpose is not to replace the professor, but simply to offer you another tool for teaching mathematics and related subjects.

Instructor's Manual

Instructor's Manuals are in production and will be available for most modules. This might include worksheets, pre- and post-tests, further activities, and experienced-based suggestions.

Known Issues and Incompatibilities

General Problems

If you're encountering problems with the modules (Java applets not opening properly, bizarre formatting, etc.), chances are that you aren't using one of our recommended browsers. Please see our Installation and Technical Tips and make sure you have configured your browser correctly.

Formatting Disappears

Occasionally, when you resize your browser window in Netscape 4.0, the formatting of the document - which is controlled by cascading style sheets - will disappear. If this happens, please reload the page by right clicking in the content frame and choosing "Reload Frame" from the pop-up menu. Don't choose reload from the browser buttons at top - it will send you back to the home page of the module.


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