Visual Plane Geometry

3/20/00

While this program contains a lot of solid information, there is not enough interaction to make it the geometry 'course' it claims to be. Those just beginning to study geometry will find lots of good explanations, but very little in the way of 'doing' any math.

Plane Geometry is very much a textbook on screen. The layout is very easy to use, and I did like the html format of the program. It runs just like your browser does when you are on-line, making this very familiar territory. From the main menu, you can select a subject, or work through ideas one at a time. Say you choose the subject 'line segments;' you would then be brought to a page which gives you a definition of line segments. Some pages have nice photos, or decent diagrams. At the top of the page you click on 'animation,' and watch a short Quick Time animation of the concept while a (very good) narrator reads the definition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So far I liked what I saw. There was nothing in the way of catchy sound or animation that would grab a reluctant teenager, but the information was well presented. Your teenager could glean the information either from reading it, or listening to the definition. When I clicked on Exercises I was sorely disappointed. I was hoping for some extension or application activities, particularly as the course went on. All I really found, however, were questions regarding what had just been read. In a few instances you had to apply the knowledge (find the angle name etc.) but in a very limited manner.

This program starts out on the right foot, but drops the ball in my opinion. It might be more interesting, and better written than most textbooks, but lacks any meaningful application in my opinion.

This might make a nice companion to the study of geometry, but you will need a textbook for any real application or skills practice.

Grading for Plane Geometry Educational Value: 3 Entertainment Value: 2 Replay Value: 2 Available from Education 2000 at http://www.education2000.com