Education ForeCAST Tipsheet

Algebra

PUMP Algebra:
Solving Math Problems Online

The PUMP (Pittsburgh Urban Mathematics Project) Algebra Project is a collaboration between the ACT Research Group and the PACT Center at Carnegie Mellon University, and a group of teachers in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. It is an attempt to make high school Algebra accessible to all students through the use of situational curriculum materials and an intelligent computer based tutoring system.

PUMP Algebra was introduced into the Pittsburgh public school system in 1992 and has since spread into a handful of suburban Pittsburgh districts and other districts around the nation. PUMP is also in use in several schools for children of American servicemen in Europe. The PUMP program runs on low end MacIntosh computers, and is currently being developed for the PC.

The Classroom Experience

Bill Hadley has been involved with the development of the PUMP program since its inception. He says the cognitive tutor feature in PUMP takes many elements into account when evaluating the individual needs and abilities of each students. "Since we are keeping track of every mouse click, every key click, every time between key strokes, we know how they got that answer and therefore assign problems as needed, " he explains.

Each student sits at a computer that is linked to a server housing each student's individual data. The PUMP program then presents the student with a word problem and he or she is asked to solve it. High school senior Steven Rivett, a student at suburban Fox Chapel high school, explains how he learns his algebra with PUMP: "It helps just, because, I mean, sometimes you don't get the concept right away and then it just helps because then it will give you the problem again and then the next time you will be able to get it a little bit better and hopefully you will only have to do it twice."

Teachers can track their students' progress through a combination of reports generated by the computer, and in-class written tests.

PUMP Principles

The PUMP Algebra curriculum is based on several general principles and underlying assumptions which are consistent with the recently released National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Board's Statement on Algebra.

    Learning occurs best through dialogue, discussion, and interaction
    Students must be actively involved in the process
    A variety of models must be used to meet the needs of all students
    Students benefit from reading, critiquing, and revising each others work
    A discovery approach to learning engages the learner and allows him or her to own the process
    The discovery approach should lead to creating the rules, language and structure of mathematics


Listen to the Education ForeCAST piece on PUMP Algebra from WDUQ-FM

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Underlying Assumptions

  • Algebra for All Students

  • Functional Approach

  • Students Constructing Own Knowledge

  • Modeling "Real World" Problems

  • "Doing" Mathematics

  • Problem-Solving

  • Multiple Representations

  • Macro-Procedures

  • Integration of Mathematical Concepts

  • Student-Centered Classroom

  • Cooperative Learning

  • Reading, Writing and Presenting to Learn Mathematics

  • Teacher as Facilitator

  • Multiple Types of Assessments

  • Use of Tools - Calculators, Manipulatives

For more information on PUMP Algebra, and for a list of participating schools, contact lead teacher Bill Hadley at Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-3890, tel (412)268-3409.

Visit PUMP Algebra online for more details on the curriculum development matrix and grading standards.
(http://sands.psy.cmu.edu/)

For more information on multimedia mathematics programs, explore the following websites:



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