Translations

Code	Language		Translator	Run

Credits

weelookang@gmail.com; Francisco Esquembre; Felix J. Garcia Clemente

1. Introduction:

This briefing document summarizes the key themes and important aspects of the "Special Function Animation" resource, as presented in the provided excerpts. This resource, part of the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore initiative, focuses on visualizing and interacting with various mathematical functions through a JavaScript-based simulation. The document aims to provide an overview of the resource's purpose, content, and potential applications for educators.

2. Main Themes and Important Ideas:

• Interactive Visualization of Mathematical Functions: The central theme of this resource is the dynamic and interactive exploration of mathematical functions. The simulation allows users to see the graphical representation of different equations and observe how the output (y-value) changes with the input (x-value). This is highlighted by the description: "This a simulation, to harness the power, pause the simulation and select combobox user defined and key in your own equations!" This emphasizes the user's ability to directly manipulate and observe the behavior of functions.
• Open Educational Resource (OER): The resource is explicitly identified as part of the "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative. This signifies its commitment to free access, use, adaptation, and sharing for educational purposes. The licensing information at the end of the second excerpt reinforces this: "Contents are licensed Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License."
• Focus on Fundamental Mathematical Concepts: The resource directly lists "Functions and graphs," "Graphs and transformations," and "Equations and inequalities" as core topics related to the animation. This suggests that the tool is designed to support the understanding of these foundational mathematical concepts through visual and interactive means.
• Ease of Embedding: The resource provides an "Embed" code (an <iframe> tag) that allows educators and users to easily integrate the simulation into their own webpages or learning platforms. This promotes accessibility and wider adoption of the tool.
• Pre-defined and User-Defined Functions: The simulation comes with a set of pre-defined common functions that users can explore through a combobox. Examples of these functions are explicitly listed "For Teachers" and include linear functions (y=x, y=-x), absolute value functions (y=|x|, y=-|x|), polynomial functions (y=x², y=x³), rational functions (y=1/x, y=-1/x), logarithmic and exponential functions (y=log(x), y=2^x), trigonometric functions (y=sin(x), y=cos(x)), and even the equation of a circle (y=x²+(y-a)²=R²). The crucial feature allowing "user defined" equations significantly enhances its flexibility for exploring a wider range of mathematical relationships.
• Animation for Enhanced Understanding: The resource title and description emphasize "animation." The text states, "The simulation is set to run as an animation looping through the options in the combobox." This animation likely provides a dynamic way to compare different functions or visualize changes in parameters, although the specific nature of this looping animation for pre-defined functions would require direct interaction with the simulation.
• Resource for Teachers: The explicit section "For Teachers" listing various pre-defined functions with direct links ("https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction") suggests that this resource is specifically designed to aid teachers in demonstrating and explaining these functions to students.
• Availability of Additional Resources: The excerpts provide links to a video demonstration ("https://youtu.be/XjvD2gqkPaY") and a blog post related to the animation ("https://weelookang.blogspot.com/2019/09/special-function-animation.html"). These external resources likely offer further explanations, pedagogical suggestions, or examples of how to use the simulation. An Instagram link ("https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Eg7u4hBXv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link") also indicates a social media presence for the project, potentially sharing updates or usage examples.
• Part of a Larger Ecosystem: The "Breadcrumbs" and the extensive list of other resources and "SLS Hackathon" projects demonstrate that "Special Function Animation" is part of a broader collection of interactive learning tools developed by the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore initiative. This context suggests a commitment to using technology to enhance learning across various subjects.

3. Key Facts:

• Title: Special Function Animation
• Authors: weelookang@gmail.com; Francisco Esquembre; Felix J. Garcia Clemente
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License
• Platform: JavaScript Simulation Applet HTML5 (indicating web-based and likely interactive)
• Embedding: The model can be embedded in webpages using an <iframe> tag.
• Functionality: Allows users to visualize pre-defined and user-defined mathematical functions and their graphs.
• Purpose: To aid in understanding functions, graphs, transformations, equations, and inequalities.

4. Potential Applications for Educators:

• Interactive Demonstrations: Teachers can use the simulation in the classroom to visually demonstrate the behavior of different functions and the impact of changing their equations.
• Student Exploration: Students can interact with the simulation to explore different functions independently, test their understanding, and develop intuition about the relationship between equations and graphs.
• Homework and Assignments: The embedded model can be integrated into online learning platforms for interactive homework or assignments where students manipulate functions and observe the results.
• Concept Introduction and Reinforcement: The animation can serve as an engaging way to introduce new function types or reinforce understanding of their properties.
• Customization: The "user defined" equation feature allows for exploration of specific examples relevant to the curriculum or student questions.

5. Conclusion:

The "Special Function Animation" resource offers a valuable tool for mathematics education. Its interactive nature, ease of embedding, and the ability to explore both pre-defined and user-defined functions make it a potentially engaging and effective resource for both teachers and students. The fact that it is an OER under a Creative Commons license further enhances its accessibility and potential for widespread use and adaptation. Educators are encouraged to explore the linked video and blog post for more detailed insights into the simulation's capabilities and pedagogical applications.

 

Special Function Animation Study Guide

Core Concepts

This resource focuses on the concept of special function animation, specifically within the context of interactive simulations designed for learning. The primary focus appears to be on visualizing mathematical functions and their transformations through an embedded JavaScript simulation. Key areas to understand include:

• Functions and Graphs: The fundamental relationship between mathematical functions and their graphical representations.
• Graphs and Transformations: How modifying a function algebraically affects its graphical form (e.g., shifts, stretches, reflections).
• Equations and Inequalities: The connection between algebraic expressions and their corresponding visual representations, potentially including regions defined by inequalities.
• Interactive Simulations: The use of computer-based models that allow users to manipulate parameters and observe the resulting changes in real-time.
• Open Educational Resources (OER): The nature of the materials as freely accessible and potentially modifiable for educational purposes.

Key Features of the Simulation

Based on the provided text, the "Special Function Animation" simulation likely has the following features:

• Pre-defined Functions: A set of commonly used mathematical functions available for visualization (e.g., y=x, y=x², y=sin(x)).
• User-Defined Equations: The ability for users to input their own mathematical equations to be graphed and animated.
• Animation Loop: The simulation can run automatically, cycling through different options or pre-sets.
• Pause and Control: Users have the ability to pause the animation and potentially control specific parameters or aspects of the visualization.
• Embeddability: The simulation can be embedded into web pages using an iframe.

Quiz

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

1. What is the primary purpose of the "Special Function Animation" resource as suggested by the text?
2. Name three examples of the pre-defined functions that are available in the "Special Function Animation" simulation.
3. According to the "Sample Learning Goals," what is a key interactive feature that users can utilize within the simulation to explore functions beyond the defaults?
4. What does the term "embed" refer to in the context of the provided information about the simulation?
5. Who are credited as the creators or contributors to the "Special Function Animation" resource?
6. Under what type of license is the content of the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore site, including the "Special Function Animation," released?
7. Besides mathematical functions, what other types of interactive resources or tools are mentioned on the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore website? Provide one example.
8. What is the significance of the provided iframe code related to the "Special Function Animation" resource?
9. Where can users potentially find a video demonstration or explanation related to the "Special Function Animation"?
10. What is the URL provided that directly links to information about the special function animations (like y=x, y=-x, etc.)?

Quiz Answer Key

1. The primary purpose of the "Special Function Animation" resource is to provide an interactive way to visualize mathematical functions and their transformations. It aims to help users understand the relationship between equations and their graphical representations.
2. Three examples of pre-defined functions available in the simulation are y=x, y=x², and y=sin(x). Other examples include y=-x, y=|x|, y=-|x|, y=x³, y=1/x, y=-1/x, y=log(x), y=2^x, y=cos(x), and y=x²+(y-a)²=R².
3. A key interactive feature is the "combobox user defined," which allows users to pause the simulation and input their own equations to be visualized and explored. This enables learning beyond the pre-set examples.
4. In this context, "embed" refers to the ability to integrate the "Special Function Animation" simulation directly into other web pages using the provided iframe HTML code. This allows for easy sharing and incorporation of the interactive tool.
5. weelookang@gmail.com, Francisco Esquembre, and Felix J. Garcia Clemente are credited as the creators or contributors to the "Special Function Animation" resource, as indicated by the copyright and credits sections.
6. The content on the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License. This allows for sharing and adaptation under specific conditions.
7. Besides mathematical function animations, the website mentions other interactive resources such as "SLS Hackathon" projects featuring JavaScript and HTML5 simulations for various subjects like cloze passages, vector addition, and games related to different academic topics.
8. The iframe code is significant because it provides the specific HTML element needed to directly embed the interactive "Special Function Animation" simulation into any webpage, allowing users to access and interact with it within that page.
9. Users can potentially find a video demonstration or explanation related to the "Special Function Animation" at the provided YouTube link: https://youtu.be/XjvD2gqkPaY.
10. The URL provided that directly links to information about the special function animations is https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction. This link is repeated for several specific functions as examples.

Essay Format Questions

1. Discuss the pedagogical benefits of using interactive simulations like "Special Function Animation" for teaching and learning about functions and graphs. Consider aspects such as visualization, exploration, and engagement.
2. Analyze the features and functionalities of the "Special Function Animation" simulation based on the provided text. How do these features support the learning goals of understanding functions and their transformations?
3. Explore the concept of Open Educational Resources (OER) and discuss the implications of the "Special Function Animation" being released under a Creative Commons license for educators and learners.
4. Based on the variety of resources listed on the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore website, discuss the potential of using interactive simulations and applets across different subject areas and educational levels.
5. Consider the process of embedding the "Special Function Animation" into a webpage using the iframe code. What are the advantages and potential limitations of using this method for sharing and accessing educational resources?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Function: A relationship between a set of inputs and a set of permissible outputs with the property that each input is related to exactly one output.
• Graph: A visual representation of a function or a relationship between variables, typically plotted on a coordinate system.
• Transformation: An operation that changes the position, size, or orientation of a graph or a geometric figure. Common transformations include translation, reflection, stretching, and compression.
• Equation: A mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions.
• Inequality: A mathematical statement that compares two expressions using symbols such as < (less than), > (greater than), ≤ (less than or equal to), or ≥ (greater than or equal to).
• Simulation: A computer-based model of a real-world system or process that allows users to interact with it and observe the outcomes of different actions or parameter changes.
• Interactive: Allowing for two-way communication or influence between a user and a system, such as a simulation, where the user's input affects the system's behavior.
• Open Educational Resources (OER): Teaching, learning, and research materials that are in the public domain or released under an open license, permitting no-cost access, use, adaptation, and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions.
• JavaScript: A high-level, often just-in-time compiled programming language that conforms to the ECMAScript specification. It is commonly used to add interactivity to web pages.
• HTML5: The latest evolution of the standard that defines HTML. It supports new multimedia elements and APIs that allow for richer interactive web applications.
• Applet: A small application, typically written in Java or another programming language, designed to be embedded within another application, such as a web page. In this context, it likely refers to the JavaScript-based interactive simulations.
• Iframe (Inline Frame): An HTML element that creates a nested browsing context within a webpage, allowing another HTML document to be embedded within the current page.

Sample Learning Goals

This a simulation, to harness the power, pause the simulation and select combobox user defined and key in your own equations!

The simulation is set to run as an animation looping through the options in the combobox.

 

For Teachers

Special Function Animation

y=x https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

y=-x https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=|x| https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=-|x| https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=x^2 https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=x^3 https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

 

y=1/x https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=-1/x https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=log(x) https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=2^x https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=sin(x) https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=cos(x) https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

 

y=x²+(y-a)²=R² https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/899-specialfunction

Video

 

https://youtu.be/XjvD2gqkPaY

 Version:

1. https://weelookang.blogspot.com/2019/09/special-function-animation.html 

Other Resources

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Eg7u4hBXv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link