webODEs: A web site devoted to the teaching of ordinary differential equations

Trustees Of Boston University, Boston

Investigators

Abstract

Mathematical Sciences (21) This proof of concept project is developing and evaluating a set of easy-to-use symbolic and numerical "calculators" that produce exact as well as approximate solutions to ordinary differential equations (ODE) that are encountered in the introductory course. The capabilities of WebMathematica underpin these tools, thus making them widely accessible independent of local hardware platforms. The project is also developing the early components of a "clearinghouse" of annotated links to other educational resources. The clearinghouse is expected to facilitate the incorporation of visualization and computational technology into the teaching and learning of ordinary differential equations. As such the project has the endorsement of the Mathematical Sciences Digital Library (MathDL), which provides an important avenue of dissemination for this work.