WebMath: Re: Finding and Sharing on-line Math Resources

[Alan Cooper]

I agree that despite the existence of massive resource catalogues such
as the Math Forum and MathArchives , it is still not easy to quickly
locate all the relevant and useful resources on any specific detailed
topic. The BCCUPM (BC's Math "Articulation Committee") decided this
spring to work on developing a more tightly identified set of resource
links, and I have been struggling with the same idea for over a year
now. A rough "by hand" effort at identifying resources on a
topic-by-topic basis is at
       http://www.langara.bc.ca/mathstats/resource/onWeb/index.htm
but what is really needed is an automated database of resources with
metadata that include very detailed topic identification.

Perhaps this list would be a good place for further discussion of these
issues as it will be important, as time goes on, to describe our
resources in a consistent way if we (and our computers) are to be able
to sensibly sort through them.
Alan

P.S. I will of course add a link to your site in our list of catalogues
- and also in our section on "Tutors" re the on-line help service.

Deborah Kell wrote:

> I'm interested in somehow finding better ways of sharing
> online resources and  facilities.   The uploading of math
> symbols is nowhere near as easy as uploading plain text.
> Search engine spiders are being overwhelmed by the sheer
> quantity of websites, and sometimes don't even know of
> existing websites unless they are heavily used and linked to
> as it is.  (Unless one pays to keep registration with search
> engines up to date, it's a tough job to do so as an
> individual.  Monthly reregistration with each of the search
> engines is necessary to keep your website on their active
> lists.)  And there are some beautiful resources out there
> that could become part of a "link-net" or similar web
> connection system.  What do other folk think?  I'd be more
> than happy if other educators linked to, used, contributed
> ideas to our website(s) and I'd love to be referred to link
> to, use and contribute to others.  If we worked at linking
> to each other more efficiently and methodically, then the
> search engines' spider software would be more likely to find
> us as well.
>
> I have two websites that might be of interest to members of
> this listserve.
>
> This first website is an attempt to get math support
> services online for our community college students.  The
> most popular pages are those involving the interactive
> quizzes and the fast facts.   The "post a question" feature
> may become password-protected in the future, if volume and
> other considerations arise.
> http://www.mccc.edu/~kelld/olmlc.html
>
> This next one is a barely-begun project designed to become
> sort of a repository of resources for both educators and
> students looking at online learning (not math specific).
> With this one, I'm certain that I'm duplicating a number of
> resources that already exist, but I'm just not sure where
> they may be.
> http://www.mccc.edu/~kelld/flashydata.html
>
> Debbie Kell
> Mercer County Community College
> Trenton, NJ
>
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--
======================================================================
Alan Cooper (acooper at langara.bc.ca , http://www.langara.bc.ca/~acooper)
Dep't of Mathematics and Statistics (http://www.langara.bc.ca/mathstats)

Langara College        (http://www.langara.bc.ca )
100 W 49th Ave. Vancouver BC
Canada    V5Y2Z6       Tel(604)323-5676,Fax(604)323-5555
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