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About the eNLVM Project

The eNLVM is an NSF funded project to develop interactive online learning units (eModules) for 3-12 mathematics.

• eNLVM Project Flyer
• eModules (Online Curriculum Units)
• Tutorials
• Information for Teachers
• Field Testing
• User Testing
• Research Questions
• Information for Resource Developers
• Project Participants

For more information about the eNLVM project, please email enlvm AT usu DOT edu.

eModules (Online Curriculum Units)

The interactive online curriculum units developed by the eNLVM project are called eModules. An eModule:

• Provides materials to support 1-3 hours of instruction.
• Targets identified objectives corresponding to state and national standards.
• Includes a lesson plan describing how to use the materials.
• Provides interactive online activities for students.
• Includes an online assessment.

The eNLVM eModules draw heavily from resources in the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM). Some eModules also reference resources from other websites. See Information for Resource Developers for more information. Here is a list of planned eModules.

Tutorials

The following resources provide an introduction to the eNLVM:

• Quick Start Manual (PDF - 200K)
• Overview of the eNLVM (PPT - 4.7M)
• Using the eNLVM as a Student (Flash - 8.6M)
• Registering to Use the eNLVM (Flash - 5.5M)
• Setting up an eModule to Use with Your Class (Flash - 5.2M)
• Creating Lessons and Activities (Flash - 7.8M)

If you are using a slow internet connection, downloads may take some time.

Information for Teachers

The eNLVM provides easy-to-use teaching tools and resources that promote student understanding of important mathematics. Key aspects of the eNLVM for teachers are:

• Materials are and always will be freely available online.
• Lessons utilize interactive math-rich software that students find motivating.
• Lessons target identified national and state standards.
• Materials include lesson plans for teachers.
• Materials can be used as part of presentations or with students working on computers.
• Lessons are field tested in classrooms and revised based on gathered data.
• Online student activities, delivery system, and teacher tools are easy to use.
• Lessons utilize interactive applets from the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (http://nlvm.
usu.edu).
• Teacher tools allow teachers to easily view student performance.
• Teachers can easily adapt materials as needed.
• Teachers can include and contextualize any resource on the web.
• Developers will work with teachers to tailor materials to their needs.

As a publicly available website, the eNLVM may be used by any teacher without explicit consent or communication with project developers. However, we welcome teachers who are willing to conduct field tests to gather data to evaluate and improve eNLVM materials.

Field Testing

Evaluating eModules under actual classroom use is an integral part of the eNLVM project. Field tests help developers refine the materials, generate case studies that teachers can use to learn about eModules, and provide data for evaluating the effectiveness and appeal of eModules.

Any teacher who is willing to field test eNLVM resources can easily do so. We are offering free copies of the NLVM CD to teachers who field test eModules. To conduct a field test:

1. Choose an eModule to field test and set up a class for your students.
2. Complete the background questionnaire provided with the eModule.
3. Arrange for observers if possible.
4. Use the eModule with your students.
5. Ask your students to complete the post-lesson student questionnaire.
6. Complete the post-lesson teacher questionnaire.
7. Collect and upload observation notes.

In order for eNLVM field tests to comply with guidelines for conducting research with human subjects, proper consent must be obtained from school districts, principals, teachers, parents, and students. Please use the following forms for those purposes:

• Letter to School Administrators (districts and principals) (MSWord, PDF)
• Letter to Teachers (MSWord, PDF)
• Parental Informed Consent Form (MSWord, PDF)
• Packet for Administrators and Teachers (MSWord)

Please email nlvm@usu.edu before you conduct a field test and after you have completed it. When you email, please indicate whether or not you would like help adapting resources for your class. Please fax forms signed by school district administrators, principals, and teachers to Joel Duffin at (435) 797-1822. Teachers should keep the signed parental informed consents.

User Testing

One way we are evaluating eModules is by observing individual students work through them (user testing). When possible, we like to record student interactions with the eModule. One effective way to record student interactions is to use video screen capture software. On Windows, a free tool called CamStudio is available for this purpose. To learn how to obtain and use CamStudio, refer to our guide for video capturing student interactions.

See additional information on eNLVM User Testing including example user test screen capture videos.

Research Questions

When evaluating our eModules we are looking for data that can inform us about:

• Technical robustness
• Appeal
• Effectiveness
• Ease of use
• Efficiency
• Assessment validity
• Actual classroom use
• Interaction effects between teacher, student, usage, and equipment, and outcomes

For more information, please see this research questions document.

Information for Resource Developers

Some eNLVM lessons reference resources from websites other than the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. In doing so, it is our intention to fully comply with copyright and use requirements.

Several developers of online resources have already given permission for their resources to be referenced by eNLVM lessons. A list of websites that have given us permission to reference their resources can be found in our list of external resources.

When using external resources our approach is:

• Each page that references an external resource names the website that the resource is from and gives the URL where it can be referenced directly.
• If allowed, resources are referenced by placing them inside of a frame. If resource owners do not allow their resource to be included inside of a frame, we reference the resource via a link that opens the resource in a new browser window.
• We attempt to contact resource owners with the URL that references their resource, asking them for permission to reference it. Here is the permission request letter (PDF, DOC) that we use.
• In some cases, we have not yet heard back from the creators of the resources that we reference. When this occurs we provide instructions on how the owner of the resource can contact us to request that we stop referencing their resource or reference it in a different manner.
• If the owner of a resource asks us to stop referencing it, we remove the reference in a timely manner.

Please email nlvm@usu.edu if you have any questions.

Project Participants

The eNLVM project involves mathematicians, math educators, classroom teachers, software developers, instructional designers, and evaluators from around the United States. Participants in the eNLVM project include: