Interactive Teaching Programs 1

Interactive Teaching Programs (ITPs) are an ICT-based tool developed by the National Strategies to support the teaching of key concepts in mathematics. Where available, manuals which describe how the ITP works and could be used are posted as separate files.

This group of ITPs cover:

*Area allows students to colour in cells on a grid, a full cell or half a cell, or to place a circular counter into a cell. There are three choices of grid size. The grid can be hidden or replaced by a pin board around the points of which rubber bands can be stretched.

*Calculating angles allows shapes to be place around a point and their angles investigated. The shapes can be displayed in one, two or four quadrants. The first shape is placed on the screen in the first quadrant with one of its sides horizontal.

*Coordinates allows the use of a marker to identify the coordinates of points on different grids. Points can be marked and lines and shapes drawn. There is a choice of one, two or four quadrants to work in to introduce both positive and negative coordinates.

*Counting on and back simulates a 100-bead string. The beads can be moved either individually or in groups.

*Data handling allows data to be entered into a table which then create a vertical bar chart, a horizontal bar chart or a pie chart. There are existing data sets, which can be amended to show the impact and change on the charts.

*Decimal number line allows an interval to be selected from a given number line and shows that interval as a second number line divided into ten equal parts but on a bigger scale. This can then be repeated to create a third number line that represents an interval on the second number line.

*Difference allows two rows of beads to be compared and the calculations they can represent to be analysed.

The full Guide to the interactive teaching programs, including guidance for most interactive resources, is available.

• URL: http://stem.org.uk/rx6xh