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 rules without memorizing before requiring players to play can begin jump these hurdles What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy James Paul Gee, MacMillan, 2003
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.
Category: Software for Experiencing Rules
Category: Software for Experiencing Rules Fitch
Category: Software for Experiencing Rules xyAlgebra
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.
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
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.
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)
Built-in topic: Algebra
Built-in topic: Algebra
Built-in topic: Prop. Logic
Example Document
Example Document
Example Document
Example Document
Example Document
Example Document
Example Document
Example Document
Demo
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.
Get Involved • Download Lurch, try it, • Do development: and send feedback. Either write and share math topics or help • Join our email list. write Lurch itself. • Give some assignments • Supervise student that use Lurch, and send developers: us students’ feedback. We have supervised 7 math and/or CS undergrads so far, 2 of them remotely.
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
Lurch Website http://lurch.sourceforge.net (or just Google “lurch math”) • Download Lurch (free, open source) • Join the email list • Contact us by email • Learn how to become a developer
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