An algebraic formula manipulation system for education and its implementation on different PCs

ABSTRACT

When studying the application of APL to high school education to help students in their understanding of mathematical concepts, many teachers encountered difficulties in that the result of their study could not be used in their classes because schools had provided them with computer models which can not run APL. The authors and their co-workers of the Computer Study Group of MiYagi Prefecture Society of Mathematical Education found a way to solve such a difficulty by porting study files from NiHonGo APL to I-APL. This paper discusses the problems encountered in classrooms, the new system applied to three popular models of personal computers, the actual use of the APL study files in eight schools for learning polynomial factorisation, and evaluation of both teachers and students.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: APL

Additional Classification:
  F. Theory of Computation
  F.2 ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMS AND PROBLEM COMPLEXITY
      F.2.1 Numerical Algorithms and Problems
          Subjects: Number-theoretic computations (e.g., factoring, primality testing)

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.1 SYMBOLIC AND ALGEBRAIC MANIPULATION
      I.1.2 Algorithms
          Subjects: Algebraic algorithms

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION

General Terms:
Human Factors, Languages