FluidMath – Maths Handwriting Recognition for the IWB
FluidMath is maths-based handwriting recognition software. It enables teachers and students to easily create, solve, graph and animate math and physics problems all in their own handwriting on any brand of interactive whiteboard or on a tablet PC. I also had it working very well with a Wacom graphics tablet when I tested the software this morning.
The software enables math teachers and students to easily create graphs and tables using their own handwriting. FluidMath graphs and makes tables for implicitly defined functions (like x=y2), relations, discrete functions (like the Fibonacci Sequence), parametric functions, and more!
The handwriting recognition software is pretty powerful, and deals with maths equations better than the built in ones for Smart and Promethean boards. I’d love to see it tweaked slightly to be able to cope with science formulae too.
It was very quick and easy to write a maths function, and convert it into a graph.
If you want to use equations in other software such as Microsoft Word you can simply write the expression in your own handwriting and paste it into a Word document. Equations are copied as MathML, Latex or as an image. You could combine Fluid Math with your regular IWB software such as Smart Notebook or ActivInspire – switch out to Fluid Maths to generate graphs and equations, and then copy/paste back into the IWB software later.
See more on the Fluid Maths YouTube channel.
The software is not free, licences start from around $100 per year per computer. You can download a free trial of Fluid Math here, and see if it’s something you want to spend money on. I can see it being a very useful piece of software in many maths departments.
If you’ve tried it, let me know what you think of it in the comments below!
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Desmos Interactive Graphing Calculator
I’ve written about Desmos before – they are developing some very interesting online whiteboard software which is still currently in beta.
But while we’re waiting for the full release, Desmos have released something else they’ve been working on as a side project, and thats their Desmos Calculator, available at www.abettercalculator.com
You can very quickly enter equations using a combination of the keyboard and the pop up equation builder. The lines immediately appear on the graph. Change the equation and see the change in the line straight away. Or layer multiple lines on the same graph.
Here’s what Desmos had to say about it:
We set out to reimagine the graphing calculator from the ground up, building on the best technologies available. This is beautiful, powerful, intuitive math that lives in your browser. Graph multiple functions in vivid color and watch them update as you type. Save your work to the cloud or share it with friends. Transform your computer or tablet into a math engine. This is just the beginning—and it’s all completely free.
Maths teachers should definitely bookmark this. It’s a totally free resource running in HTML5 so it will even run on your iPad via mobile Safari.
Go take a look at Desmos Graphing Calculator here, and let me know what you think in the comments below!
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Math Quiz : Online GCSE and A Level Maths tests
Secondary maths teachers will be interested in Math Quiz, an online bank of maths tests for students. There are 4 levels of test : GCSE mathematics, A-Level mathematics, Foundation for University mathematics and University level mathematics.
The questions are multiple choice, usually 10 questions per test. Once the test is complete the system gives instant feedback to the user.
You need to register with the site to get the full functionality such as seeing full tests and saving your past tests to a user profile. It’s free to register, but there are also premium features which are available for a additional fee. Premium users can see full solutions to each question, printable tests and get access to more tests etc. A year’s membership costs £15, but at the moment you can get a year for just £5.
If you want to just check the site out you can do that without registering and access some cut-down quizzes.
The site uses something called MathML to correctly display mathematical expressions in the browser, so as such it works best in Firefox browsers rather than Internet Explorer.
Math Quiz would be useful for teachers to direct their students to for maths revision and maybe for running short tests in a lesson. It’s an interesting resource and well worth pointing your students towards it.
Take a look here : http://math-quiz.co.uk/
Let me know what you think in the comments.
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SeeMath – primary numeracy animations for the IWB
Primary school teachers might like to take a look at SeeMath.com, a free website with simple Flash animations of various maths concepts. Seemath.com has been designed by maths teacher Tal Greengard.
There are lots of different animations on the site, with new animations being added regularly.
It’s a nice resource to have bookmarked. The animations could be very useful as an alternative way of demonstrating some maths concepts.
A way of making the animations actually “full-screen” would be handy. Maximising the browser window doesnt make the animations much bigger than they are initially.
Take a look at : www.seemath.com
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Exploriments – science and maths simulations.
Exploriments are simulation-based interactive learning resources for enhancing understanding in Chemistry, Physics and Maths in an experiential manner. They can be used by both students and teachers. Exploriments provide a highly interactive, exploratory, and engaging experience.
Topics covered include forces, motion, projectiles, electricity, chemical formulae, graphing and algebra. Some of the activities are available for free – with the rest available on subscription. You will need to register with the site to access the free resources, which are spread throughout the site – usually one or two free resources per section.
Each resource is accompanied by instructions on how to use it, as well as comprehensive text which describes the theory behind the simulation and any necessary formulae. Resources need Shockwave to work.
Take a look at : http://www.exploriments.com/
Smart board users should also take a look at the Smart Exchange where Exploriments have put up a few notebook files that they’ve created.
Hat tip to Dave Andrade for the link.
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Free Images from EduPic – Science, Maths and more
Edupic is a great resource for images that will be of interest to science and maths teachers, amongst others.
Created by William Vann EduPic Graphical Resource was launched in September 2006 as a source of free images for teachers and their students. Now with over 6000 different photographs and education illustrations, EduPic is used everyday all over the world.
The images on EduPic are “free for use by educational professionals and the students they serve without permission.” Students may use the images on EduPic for any educational purpose, even in published and distributed works, such as a student created website or conference poster.
It’s a great source of clipart drawings and photographs – and it’s well worth investigating.
Go take a look at : http://www.edupic.net/sci_gr.htm
Thanks to Ian Bean (@SENICT) forthe link via twitter.
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Google Chart/Graph Tool
This has been doing the rounds on Twitter recently, I think it’s been around for a while but I’ve missed it previously.
Google has produced an online chart editor that lets you create charts and graphs and then embed the resulting image into your blog/website etc.
There’s lots of options to play with, and you can tweak your graph to your hearts content.
Go take a look at : http://imagecharteditor.appspot.com/
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Science and Maths Videos from Brightstorm
Brightstorm is a beta site which hosts a large number of Science and Maths videos. There are over 2500 videos on the site covering many different aspects of High School Science and maths.
From what I can see, the videos consist of teachers giving lecture-style presentations with occasional graphics. This makes them good for revision, although they may not be the most eye-catching or exciting videos. Each video comes with an accompanying transcript of the audio which is a useful feature. Firstly it makes the video more accessible plus a teacher could copy/paste the text into a worksheet and create a comprehension activity related to the video.
Videos are grouped by topic, plus US teachers/students can search for videos linked to the major textbooks.
Some of the content is free, and some needs to be paid for. The Maths and Science videos are free—these 2,500+ videos cover every topic in Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, Trigonometry, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The paid content includes additional tools such as a Maths Homework Checker and test preparation programs which include practice quizzes, downloadable materials and full-length practice exams.
Check it out : http://www.brightstorm.com
What do you think of Brightstorm? Leave a comment and let me know.
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Mathematics eToolkit for any Interactive Whiteboard
The Everyday Mathematics eToolkit is a collection of maths tools which you can access via your browser. It has a variety of different manipulatives for demonstrating a variety of maths concepts along with pen, text and line tools. There is also stopwatch, timer, and a calculator along with various backgrounds and other tools.
The fact that it runs in a browser makes it a very useful tool for users of IWB’s where their own packaged software is pretty limited, it also makes it platform independent so it’s useful in schools with several different types of board installed.
It’s very similar to the McGraw Hill Virtual Manipulatives that I wrote about last year, in fact it looks like a reskinned / updated version of the same resource.
It’s an interesting site, and well worth a look, visit The Everyday Mathematics eToolkit here.
Thanks to Jonathan Wylie over at The Education Technology Blog for the link
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About Me
Danny Nicholson : Educator, Science teacher, ICT Consultant, PGCE lecturer, Author and Web2.0 / SMART Masters/ Interactive Whiteboard Trainer. Contact me for any training requests. 
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