TEL (Technology Enhanced Learning) Interactive Maths (Wolfram)

Wolfram Education Portal http://education.wolfram.com/

Take a look at the new Educational Portal from Wolfram, the company behind the Mathematica computational application and the Wolfram|Alpha ‘knowledge engine’. One needs to first register on their site, and then you are allowed to download a browser plug-in, the CDF (Computable Document Format) player which allows you to access to the coursework and the 2D and 3D demonstrations.

The focus is on maths, and the first two courses are the key foundation topics of Algebra and Calculus. “In the portal you’ll find a dynamic textbook, lesson plans, widgets, interactive Demonstrations, and more built by Wolfram education experts.”

One can access the content via Windows, Mac, or Linux, or online with desktop browsers. The website says that mobile apps are on their way. The Algebra coursework includes a comprehensive collection of matching lesson plans and textbook pages, with interactive demos. Calculus includes 19 demonstrations and 12 problem-solving widgets.

Since teachers or students are able to create their own CDF resources using Mathematica, we may see the creation of free Open Educational Resources. The licensing agreement allows you to give away your OER (open educational resource), but if you sell it, Wolfram gets a percentage. This seems to be a wonderful symbiotic relationship between the corporate world and the world of free open educational resources.

TEL (Technology Enhanced Learning) NPTEL

National Programme on Technology Enchanced Learning

NPTEL provides E-learning through online Web and Video courses in Engineering, Science and humanities streams. The mission of NPTEL is to enhance the quality of Engineering education in the country by providing free online courseware. (Mission Statement from the NPTEL website: http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/index.php, accessed March 26, 2012)

NPTEL is funded by the Ministry of Human Resources Development of the Government of India. The focus is to develop curriculum-based video and web courses to enhance the quality of engineering education in India. NPTEL funds seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), and IISc Bangalore to collaboratively develop the web and video based online coursework in basic science and engineering.

Over 250 courses were available online in 2009. The course videos are available in streaming mode, and may also available for offline viewing after download. The video files are also available on the IIT Channel in Youtube.

Participating Institutions

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (coordinating Institute)
Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur


References
Official NPTEL Website http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/index.php
YouTube IIT Channel http://www.youtube.com/iit