Digital Tools for Writing Math

Here are a few ideas on how to write math equations on your computer and how to distribute them to your students.

If you prefer writing equations by hand, you will appreciate a graphics pen tablet.

1. I like the Wacom Bamboo Tablet, it costs about $70, does not require software installation and plugs into a USB port.

Write out an equation by hand using the pen tablet and Microsoft Paint (no Macs at SMU). Save as a .gif image file. Microsoft Paint is located in Start> All Program > Accessories.

Once you create the image of the equation, you can add it into your webiste, text editor or Course Management System. We use Moodle at SMU, so I will refer to Moodle from now on.

2. Sketchcast is a free web based application that allows you to create an animated movie of your sketch, record audio and publish online. Write out a solution and record a movie of it using Sketchcast. Distribute the movie through Moodle either by providing a link to the movie or embed it directly into Moodle by copying the embed code and pasting it into the text editor.

Here is an example of a sketchcast embedded directly into the Moodle course content area.

Be sure to click on HTML mode in the Moodle text editor when you paste the embed code (click figure below to enlarge).

Sketchcast allows you to record audio as well, so you can do a voice-over explaining the solution.

If you prefer your equations in type, try the tools below.

3. At SMU, DragMath is integrated with Moodle. You can use it by clicking on this icon in any Moodle text editor. DragMath allows you to drag and drop equations into the text editor. This way you can add equations to quizzes and assignments directly in Moodle.


4. MathType, available in Microsoft Word as a tab at the top of the page, lets you type out and insert math equations into a Word document. You can also save a MathType equation as a .gif image file.


5. If you have Windows 7, Math Input Panel lets you write out equations by hand, turns them into typed text and inserts them into documents (such as Word or PPT). Math Input Panel is located in Start>All Programs>Accessories.

Write an equation by hand with Math Input Panel and insert typed text into Word or Power Point. You can then upload the documents into Moodle for easy distribution. You can also copy and paste your equation directly into Moodle, just make sure that the text editor is set to HTML mode (as above in #2).

DIY Cartography

View SMU in a larger map

A while ago, I posted a local map that SMU students and I have been building up with images and stories about the Olympia/Lacey area.

DIY Maps are becoming increasingly popular. This article in the NYT describes some interesting mapping projects.

Here is how we created our map using Google MyMaps and Flickr.

1. Create a map in Google MyMaps.
2. Upload some photos to Flickr.
3. Go to your myMaps in google and click on the map that you created
4. Click on the Edit button
5. Click on one of the pins that you've added to your map
6. Click on Edit HTML in the window that pops up



7. Now open a new browser window or tab and go to Flickr
8. Find an image in Flickr that you want to embed into your Map
9. Click on Share This and then copy the code in Grab the HTML
10. Go back to your map and paste the code into the pin pop-up window that you had opened. Make sure you are still in Edit HTML mode, otherwise it won't work.



11.If you want that image to also act as a link, switch to Rich Text mode, select the image and then click on the chain link icon at the top of the window. Paste a URL into the prompt that pops up.



12. Be sure to hit Done and Save in Google myMaps.


Now the pin in your Google Map will have the image from Flickr. To embed the map into your webiste or blog:

13. Click on Link on top right of your map, then copy code from Paste HTML to embed in website and paste it into your blog or website HTML. Notice the customize and preview option. You can select the size and exact view of the map to be embedded.

Berlin Twitter Wall

I promise that this won't turn out to be a blog all about Twitter, but I must share this interesting project that involves Twitter - The Berlin Twitter Wall.

On this interactive site, anyone can share their thoughts on the historic Fall of the Wall and post a wish for the future. If you Tweet, use the hashtag #fotw on twitter and after a while your message will appear on the twitterwall.

By clicking "stop" and "play", you can see older messages (tweets). A click on the cameras up on the wall show a selection of the domino-artwork that will fall in a symbolic act on November 9th 2009 (TODAY!) at the "Fest der Freiheit" (festival of freedom) at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.