Technology for “Dynamic Mathematics” Content Delivery: The AOLA Perspective

Moderator: Sung-Chi Chu, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Contributors (in alphabetical order):
Mirek Majewski, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
Beng Chong Teo, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Wei-Chi Yang, Radford Univeristy, U.S.A.

Abstract.

In this special session, we continue to explore specific technologies that play a role in “dynamic mathematics” content delivery – a critical element to achieve AOLA (Author-Once-Learn-Anywhere) for mathematics education. Dynamic contents no doubt enhance the learning experience. In last special session II in ATCM 2003, contents on demand (that is, reactive behaviour) are shown to be enabled by leveraging the Web Service paradigm. The author-once characteristic is also shown
possible with the continuing technology development based on XML syntactic representation. In sum, graphs are represented in SVG viewable in a browser anywhere. The graphs can be generated on demand from a discoverable mathematical service.

The above development is viewed from the perspective of a preliminary framework described. We called this framework the AOLA Framework for e-Learning in Mathematics Education or simply the AOLA Framework. This framework provides the impetus to support the development of an e-Learning environment for Mathematics Education (ME) where teachers, researchers and students gather online to share, learn, and explore. In this session, we will further the discussion on enabling “dynamic mathematics” content delivery with respect to the AOLA framework, concentrating on some design issues and considerations.