Funding from the Department of Trade and Industry and a number of leading British firms led to an extension of the original CALM Project in 1990. Courseware has been authored at the level of Scottish Higher in Mathematics which is within core A Level Mathematics thus providing some pre-university material. It includes trigonometry, basic algebra, analytic geometry, differentiation, and elementary probability. This new courseware builds on the experience gained in the earlier project and contains a number of extra features. Using the versatile authoring language Authorware the topics are covered with:
- a new section (in each topic) of self-assessment questions which are designed to provide rapid feedback to right and wrong answers;
- linking between appropriate theory, worked examples and self-assessment sections;
- enhanced graphical displays and more animated sequences;
- an overview of each topic and a better help system; and
- a more flexible unit test.
Other features remain the same as in the first CALM project. These units have been trialled in a number of schools and initial comments indicate that these units (which are only available on PC) will provide an additional tool for the teacher of Mathematics in schools.
>Back to topThere are ten units of courseware at a pre-university level. The whole package contains:
Unit 1 on Trigonometry
- Definitions
- sin, cos and tan of common angles up to pi/2
- A Useful formula sin^2() + cos^2() = 1
- Finding Cartesian coordinates given polars
- Extensions beyond 90^circ
Unit 2 on Trigonometry
- Notion of amplitude and period
- Simple trigonometric equations
- Compound angles
- Phase angle
Unit 1 on Analytic Geometry
- Lines in form y=mx+c, ax+by+c = 0, y-Y = m(x-X)
- Parallel and Perpendicular lines
- Intersection of lines
Unit 2 on Analytic Geometry
- General equation (x-a)^2 + (y-b)^2 = r^2
- Intersection of line and circle, tangent
- Tangents to circles
- Intersection of 2 circles
Unit on Algebra
- Common factors
- Difference of two squares
- Factorising quadratics
- Algebraic fractions
Unit 1 on Differentiation
- Derivative of a power
- Derivative of sums and multiples
- Derivative of sin and cos
Unit 2 on Differentiation
- Chain Rule
- Stationary points
- Curve sketching
Unit 1 on Probability --- Basic Probability
This unit introduces the concept of probability and the terminology required to set up and solve simple probability problems. Situations involving equally-likely outcomes, such as with dice, cards, etc., can be tackled by counting outcomes.
Unit 2 on Probability --- Counting Techniques
This unit studies methods for counting outcomes in probability problems. The basic multiplication result, permutations and combinations are all introduced using a variety of examples.
Unit 3 on Probability --- Probability Problems
>Back to topUsing the main result from Basic Probability and the methods from Counting Techniques realistic probability problems can now be tackled. This unit essentially consists of a series of fascinating examples involving birthdays, raffle tickets, bridge, snooker and many others.
