By the Numbers: Web-Based Simulation ¿ Consumer

¿By the Numbers¿ is an innovative multimedia Web site featuring mini-simulations of situations in which consumer mathematics are used in everyday life. Consumers continually face personal financial decisions that require a knowledge and application of mathematics. Although ¿By the Numbers¿ will be appropriate for Adult Basic or Secondary Education users, the product is intended to be a useful and quick reference for all adults. The learner who needs a refresher on basic mathematics will find the needed support in the context-sensitive interactive help, available at all times. The evaluative, formative research in Phase I will provide data on attributes of the target audience and the effectiveness of a functional context learning environment for the acquisition and transfer of consumer basic math skills. Research findings will guide the development efforts and further statistically significant research in Phase II. The primary interface for ¿By the Numbers¿ is an image map of a home interior. Advertisements, loan forms, bank statements, etc., will serve as menu choices and a starting point for the learner's exploration of consumer mathematics. An index by topic will allow the user with a specific question to jump directly to the needed information, e.g., how to calculate interest on a loan.