![[Illustration from 'Mathematical World' by Richard Phillips]](pics/pic9.jpg)
Use web-based resources more effectively
Summary
Assessment related websites include released items and tests
Instructional materials including tasks and lessons
Resources that include media and virtual manipulatives
PISA: Programme for International Student Assessment measures students' mathematical literacy - their effective use of mathematics in practical everyday life contexts. PISA complements TIMSS, The Third International Mathematics and Science Study, which is less focused on the practical applications of mathematics.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NAEP) provides teachers and leaders with summaries of the reports, trends in mathematics and reading, state profiles, released assessment items along with performance data and sample student responses on mathematics items that may be similar to district and state assessment items. The site provides a searchable database for released mathematics items for grades 4, 8, and 12.
- EDinformatics: Education for the Information Age has links to released items and tests from all states where they are available.
- Functional Mathematics Tests provides two tests that show through exemplars what is meant by "Functional Mathematics." The tests use everyday life problems.
Instructional materials including tasks and lessons
- NCTM Illuminations is designed to illuminate the vision for school mathematics described in the NCTM's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. The examples span the entire K-12 range and include online, interactive, multimedia investigations, Internet-based lesson plans, math applets that can be downloaded, and video.
- Numeracy Through Problem Solving was developed to meet a concern that many students see school mathematics as irrelevant to their present or future lives - except as "something we have to take". The NTPS curriculum and assessment has five modules that contains teaching and learning materials based on practical problems.
- Enrichment problems are carefully chosen and prepared by an editorial team and supporting articles, games and other resources are produced to support and complement the problems. The main website publishes free mathematics enrichment resources for pupils of all ages, including discussion forums and a mathematics thesaurus.
Resources that include media and virtual manipulatives
- Virtual Manipulatives is an NSF supported project that began in 1999 to develop a library of uniquely interactive, web-based virtual manipulatives or concept tutorials, mostly in the form of Java applets, for mathematics instruction (K-12 emphasis).
- Freudenthal Computer Applets are for use by primary and secondary education (�kidscount, wisweb�). They may be used by the teacher, using an interactive whiteboard, or by students working individually at a computer.
- Annenberg Media aims to improve teaching and learning within classrooms through use of videos that exemplify excellent teaching. Some of the media is designed for use with students in classrooms or at home.
