Multiple Representations™

Part of the Algebra Insight Suite

“This Adobe Flash module is currently being updated for modern browsers. Please contact us for more information.”

Description

The Multiple Representations or MultiRep module is designed to teach students to map between different representations or forms of the same problem -- namely equations, graphs, and word problems.

Many students express frustration when it comes to word problems. Indeed, to solve a word problem requires several things: comprehension of the text and what is being asked, an appropriate method by which to answer that question, and the ability to correctly use the numbers given in the problem. This is clearly a much more difficult task than your standard plug-and-chug problem where everything, save calculation of the final answer, has already been done for you. It is easy to see how students can get hung up on these sorts of word problems without assistance and extensive practice. MultiRep aims to fulfill this role, providing a multitude of examples and detailed feedback.

MultiRep also helps students map word problems and equations to graphs as well. Students learn that equations of the form y=mx+b can be interpreted visually as a graph on the coordinate plane and that these representations are interchangeable; while an equation can be used to solve a word problem, another strategy is to generate an appropriate graph. Progression through the module builds understanding of these concepts.

Students also develop speed and fluency in identifying key information in word problems and recognizing corresponding equation and graph representations. MultiRep achieves this through many trials of different mapping combinations (i.e. word problem to graph, graph to equation, etc.), encouraging students to see a problem from many different angles. As a result, students are not just learning a procedure; they are developing a deeper understanding of how word problems, graphs, and equations all relate to one another.

Screenshots

Related Products

• 

  Algebraic Transformations™

---

System Requirements

• Internet access
• The latest version of any modern browser
• Desktop computer (MAC or PC) or Android tablet