Question and Answer E-mail Based Programs

Contact: Samuel D. Glick

Address: Algebra Online P.O. Box 1398 La Quinta, CA 92253-1398

e-mail: webmaster@algebra-online.com

Type: Question/Answer Function

Project Description: The Algebra Online web site offers chat rooms, message boards, and a webpage that allows students to receive personal help with mathematics. The page lists volunteers who are willing to answer student questions via e-mail. Most of the tutors are full-time secondary and middle school teachers of mathematics.

Contact: Steven Weimar, Program Administrator of The Math Forum

e-mail: steve@forum.swarthmore.edu

Web Site: http://mathforum.com/dr.math/

Type: Questions/Answer Function

Project Description: In the fall of 1994, The Math Forum, which is supported by the National Science Foundation, launched the Ask Dr. Math website through which students can send a math question to be answered by one of a hundred "doctors," who are often volunteer graduate students, teachers or professors. Professionals must first undergo a "tenure" process during which their answers are reviewed by "tenured doctors" before being sent to the student. The answers provided focus on using models to help students, in addition to pointing students to more resources. Very rarely is the actual solution given to the student. Questions sent to Ask Dr. Math are placed in a pool from which doctors, who work under no rotation system, can choose the questions they wish to answer. Ask Dr. Math receives approximately 60-80 questions each day, typically from the middle and high school levels, and replies are sent within two days. The website also features a searchable archive.

Contact: Toni Beardon

Address: University of Cambridge -- School of Education

17 Trumpington Street Cambridge CB21QA England

International Dialing Code: 44

Phone: 01223336282

Fax: 01223332876

e-mail: LAB11@cus.cam.ac.uk

Web Site: http://www.iats.norfolk.gov.uk/Education/Curriculum/Curriculum.htm

Type: One mentor to one student team, sustained mentor relationship

Project Description: The project is part of an effort to establish a permanent national United Kingdom Mathematics Enrichment Centre. The project will advance the development of mathematical thinking and language, and emphasize the importance of proof through Internet Newsletters that provide a regular, fresh supply of mathematical challenges and problems, together with solutions contributed by students. The Mathematics Enrichment Centre will also provide an electronic answering service whereby students will be able to ask mathematical questions which will be answered personally by students from the University of Cambridge. Quality control will be exercised through rigorous selection and training of volunteers, and through checking samples of question and answer exchanges.

Contact:

Pitsco Technology Education

1004 East Adams Street

Pittsburg, KS 66762

e-mail: askanexpert@pitsco.com

Web Site: http://www.askanexpert.com/

Type: Questions/Answer Function

Project Description: Ask an Expert is a directory of links to people who have volunteered their time to answer questions and webpages that provide information. To navigate the page, one can select from 12 categories with over 300 websites and e-mail addresses to find experts to answer questions that range from the Amish lifestyle to facts about zoo keeping. Among the listed categories is Science and Technology, Money and Business, Arts, Law, Career, etc.

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