Some 'functions' of ICT in maths teaching - Part 5: Wolfram

Many people with a keen interest in maths and science will have come across 'Wolfram Alpha', a search engine that can gather statistics, solve problems, do calculations, plot graphs etc. Interestingly however, a brief time on prac has demonstrated to me that it may not have occurred to many maths teachers to utilise this powerful tool in the classroom. Extending beyond alpha, Wolfram also have a number of powerful maths tools for those willing to pay, and perhaps most importantly, the free web based resource 'Wolfram Maths World', which claims to be "the world's most extensive mathematics resource" (Wolfram Research Inc. 2011). True or not, there is an awful lot there. Most of it is aimed at a level far beyond that of most highschool students, however it seems like a powerful way to open their eyes to the possibilities. This resource appears to have incredible potential to assist with student motivation, something that is distinctly lacking in many traditional maths classrooms, and is critically important to learning (Churchill 2011).


At the more practical and specific end of things, wolfram alpha's ability to solve many maths related problems relevant to our every day lives, makes it a key tool that should at the very least be demonstrated to students.  It also provides an opportunity for students to observe, explore, and apply what they learn, to an extent not possible without utilising ICT in the classroom. Lastly, tools like this will become a regular point of call for all students who go on to careers in maths and maths related fields. Like the calculator, there is definitely a place for their use in the classroom (Ellington 2003). Again, this relates to the all important issue of relevance to the students (Churchill 2011).


1. Wolfram Research Inc. 2011, http://www.wolfram.com/company/background.html, http://www.wolframalpha.com/, http://mathworld.wolfram.com/, viewed 18th April 2011.


2. Churchill, R 2011. 'Teaching: Making a difference', Part 2,  John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. 


3. Ellington, A 2003. 'A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Calculators on Students' Achievement and Attitude Levels in Precollege Mathematics Classes', Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, Vol 34. No 5. 433-463.