Abstract: SmartTools Developing Tools for Teaching Mathematics

Author: Frank Postel* (frankp@math.uni-paderborn.de)

Affiliation: MuPAD Research Group, Univ of Paderborn, Germany

Abstract: We present software components for developing tools for teaching mathematics at elementary schools, high schools,

and universities. A "SmartTool" built with these components is devoted to a particular mathematical problem.

- It is flexible and easy to use,

- It provides mathematical "intelligence" by accessing a mathematical expert system (viz. the kernel of the computer algebra system MuPAD).

The software components can be adapted to special educational needs. Currently, the components use the COM/ActiveX technology available on Windows platforms. We demonstrate how to build such a "SmartTool". We present examples of various complexity that were developed with Visual Basic and Delphi. Other programming languages such as C++, Java, or JavaScript can be used, too.