Vol. 17, No. 39	Aug. 20, 1998

Teachers get calculator assist

One session was held on campus for teachers from New Castle County high schools, and the other was held at the Terry campus of Delaware Technical and Community College for teachers from Kent and Sussex counties.

The four-day workshops were sponsored by MATCH (Mathematics, Technology and Computing for High Schools), which is directed by Robert Gilbert, Unidel Professor of Mathematical Sciences, and Christine Ebert, mathematical sciences, and funded by a Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Grant.

The goal of MATCH is to establish a network of high school teachers interested in becoming proficient in the use of computer-algebra systems and integrating these technologies in the classroom.

Clifford Sloyer, mathematical sciences, gave introductory lectures on use of DERIVE. Gilbert gave lectures on DERIVE and TI-92 in the computing laboratory, which allowed teachers to experience the same application using both. Ebert demonstrated the uses of TI-92 and how it could be used in a high school setting. Adi Ben Israel, a former UD faculty member now at Rutgers University, gave "live" computer lessons in the multimedia lecture room of Gore Hall.

During the week, teachers had hands-on experience in computing labs where they could work with DERIVE and TI-92.

"As a result of these workshops, a large cadre of teacher-leaders has been established to continue to learn more about how to use computer-algebra systems in mathematics classes and to work with us to investigate 'best practices' with respect to the use of technology in the classroom," Gilbert said.

To learn more about MATCH, access the web site at http://www.math.udel.edu~gilbert