Math Applet Review #2

"Understanding Distance, Speed, and Time Relationships Using Simulation Software" from NCTM, e-Examples for 3-5 grade students.
http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/chap5/5.2/index.htm

This math applet helps students to understand functions and representing change over time. Students can place two runners at different points on a running line. Then students push the play button and see how fast the runners run and when they cross paths. There is a graph that is formed from where the students placed the runners and the students can pause to see where each runner is at certain points. The applet is very appealing to the eye because each runner has a different color that represents them so the student can clearly see which runner is where at all times. The students can easily slide the runners to different positions and change the size of their strides. There are also follow up questions for students to consider and help make sure they are understanding functional relationships.

This applet seems to be very helpful for students to understand functional relationships. By being able to manipulate the runners in multiple ways students can really visually see these relationships. If students do not see something the first time they can continually change the placement of the runners for any sort of question they may have. This seems like it would be a good supplemental tool to teaching functional relationships. Teachers can have students answer the questions listed after the activity to see if the students really got what the activity was trying to do. This applet seems to have the potential for the student to grow in this math concept. The student is able to play with different ways they can affect the relationship.