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Interactive math tutorials, often called mathlets, are designed to provide a more visceral learning experience than traditional textbook methods and to enhance intuitive understanding of complex ideas by allowing users to alter parameters that influence visual scenes. We describe methods for creating such tutorials using the HTML5 canvaselement. First, we discuss some motivations for writing such mathlets, then walk-through the process of creating a mathlet with canvas. Then, we compare canvasto alternatives, explaining our decision to use it, and provide links to other demonstrations and resources.
canvasto Alternative Options
canvas
canvasElementThis article requires JavaScript to be enabled in your browser. The article discusses browser support for the HTML5 canvaselement.
This article uses jsMath, which requires JavaScript, to process the mathematics expressions. If your browser supports JavaScript, be sure it is enabled. Once the jsMath scripts are running, clicking the "jsMath" button in the lower right corner of the browser window brings up a panel with configuration options and links to documentation and download pages, including instructions for installing missing mathematics fonts.
J. Tilak Ratnanather (Johns Hopkins Univ.) and Shane Steinert-Threlkeld (Johns Hopkins Univ.), "Open Standards, Web-Based Mathlets: Making Interactive Tutorials Using the HTML5 canvas Element," Loci (September 2010), DOI:10.4169/loci003340