Maplesoft Releases Online Courseware Environment for STEM
Maplesoft today released Möbius, a hands-on learning tool focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. The online courseware environment provides an interactive platform for students to explore STEM concepts, visualize problems and solutions, and receive real-time assessment feedback.
Instructors using Möbius can create lessons that incorporate "interactive explorations, illuminating visualizations, meaningful assessment questions, and guided active slideshows, which incorporate narration, exploration and self-assessment elements," according to a press release. The system collects outcome data for tracking student success and identifying areas for improvement. An integrated calendar helps students manage due dates and important course deadlines. Other features include a collection of customizable learning content, a Live Chat tool that supports the use of mathematical notation, and integration with learning management systems.
Möbius's public release comes after a number of higher education pilots around the world, which tested the technology for a variety of projects, from preparing students for first-year math and engineering courses to the development of complete online courses. The results from those pilots — taking into account the experiences of more than 100,000 students — have been fed back into the development process, according to a company statement.
"Möbius is an online courseware environment where students can learn quickly," said Tim Jackson, a senior lecturer in the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham (England), in a statement. "We are happy with the way students are able to discover basic subject concepts and develop a deeper understanding of the material."
"Unlike other online education tools, Möbius supports math content very strongly," said Kelly Foyle outreach scientist at Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. "It allows me to expand on the mathematics topics we cover and deliver them in a wider variety of question types. This provides the students with a much more interactive and dynamic experience, making it easier and fun to learn new concepts."
The platform will soon offer the option of adopting course materials developed by the University of Waterloo; the content will cover a range of skill levels, from late high school to graduate education. "The University of Waterloo has always been passionate about STEM education," commented Stephen Watt, dean of the faculty of mathematics at the university. "The learn-by-doing approach is crucial to success in STEM courses, and we are delighted to offer Möbius-based course content to our own students and to see our course materials made available to others."
For more information, visit the Maplesoft site.
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Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at rkelly@1105media.com.