After around four years of patience and research, the Mauritius College of the Air (MCA) has launched its ?Interactive Multimedia CD-ROM in Mathematics at HSC level?. In fact, this CD-Rom will be a new way for HSC students to learn mathematics. It is divided into 5 chapters and 46 lessons that have been scripted by three highly qualified and experienced teachers - Doctor Kaviraj Sukon, Paul Hung Fong Yue and Jugadiss Beehary.

The average number of hours of study needed to master the five topics on CD format is 55 and the students will be able to use these lessons at three levels. The first level introduces the whole content of the CD-ROM. The second allows the pupil to select and study appropriate lessons according to his needs and supplements existing teaching material. The last section is for revision purposes.

The launching ceremony took place last Tuesday at Ebene Cyber Tower where several personalities of the field of education were present. Govin Appavoo, project leader and senior coordinator at the MCA, presented the CD-ROM and commented that it is meant to provide a new learning experience for HSC pupils.

Following the presentation, Minister Gokhool congratulated the MCA on the project. Moreover, the minister enumerated the various governmental initiatives which have been undetaken to facilitate the integration of ICT into education in Mauritius.

An attractive tool to enhance learning

As Meena Seetulsingh, Director of the MCA, pointed out, the project has taken quite some time to materialise. She emphasised that the production process for such educational materials is complex and has involved academics and several technicians in multimedia production with an initial collaboration with FRCI. Doctor Kaviraj Sukon, chairman of the organisation, also expressed his satisfaction with the project.

One of the objectives of this CD-Rom is to provide lessons in a web environment to enhance learning. The five main chapters comprising the CD-Rom are namely: Complex Numbers, Differential Equations, Vectors, Permutations and Combinations and Probability.

One of the most important features of the CD-Rom is the graphic animations. Indeed, the product has 1,200 html texts and 4,000 images. Thereby, it can be assumed that the student will enjoy a visual concept that will motivate his learning. Added to all of this, this CD-Rom can be used as a pedagogical tool by teachers. Hence, this product could be a turning point for some to change their teaching methods. To enable all students and teachers to benefit from such a useful tool, the CDROM will be distributed free to all secondary schools?

Vanessen TIRVASSEN

Dr Hemant Beesoondyal Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics at the Mauritius Institute of Education

What do you think of the content of the Maths CD-Rom launched by the Mauritius College of the Air?

I personally welcome this CD-Rom, which is in line with the new trend in the field of teaching and learning, namely the integration of technology in education. I have had a look at the CD and I can say that, with a mix of texts, graphics, sound and animations, it offers a sound learning environment. It is based on the constructivist approach to learning whereby students are called upon to be actively involved in their own construction of knowledge.

How relevant is the CD to the needs of Mauritian HSC students?

I have to say that the five topics selected are properly done. Especially due to the fact that these are the areas where students at HSC level generally tend to face difficulties. The abstract nature of some concepts like, for example, the angle between two planes, the intersection of two planes which are in 3D are quite difficult to illustrate in a printed textbook. Whereas in the CD, through animations, the student can be sent into this three dimensional world. In other words, this product can help to reduce the abstractness of the difficult concepts.

What do you think of the design of the product?

As I said before, it has got graphics, sound and many other things. But I would like to add that this product can be used by students of different levels of capability. While it starts from a very basic introduction, it has got a corner for higher ability students called ?Challengers?. The exercises in the ?Challenger?s corner? require a higher level of thinking. Therefore,students of different levels of capability will benefit from the CD.

How could such material enhance the teaching and learning of Mathematics?

For me, the most important thing about such a product is that there should be a judicious use of the material it contains. If it is used passively without any thinking, then the objectives set by the people who designed it will not be met! When students are dealing with this material they should explore the different concepts. They need to carry out the activities mentioned. Finally, they should be more involved in critical and logical thinking. This is how this CD will be of benefit for students!