Middle Grades Mathematics Textbooks: A Benchmarks-Based Evaluation
Using the CD-ROM
The following symbols are used in this document:
= Macintosh
= Windows
The title page of the CD-ROM has six navigation buttons on the left-hand side
of the screen plus a Home key. The contents of the CD are accessible with
a Web browser, which enables users to access Project 2061's Web site provided
they have an Internet connection. Clicking on the blue Project 2061 logo at
the top of the screen takes users to the Web version of Middle Grades Mathematics
Textbooks: A Benchmarks-Based Evaluation. Users can also access updates
about the report and CD-ROM and other information on the Web site.
Place the mouse cursor over a graphic element to see an explanation in the
form of a tooltip ()
or a status bar message (,
). To open any
of the components, click on the appropriate navigation button. You can return
to the title page at any time by clicking the Home button.
BROWSE EVALUATIONS
Click the Browse Evaluations button to browse analysis data for each
of the 13 mathematics textbooks. A list of all the books will appear. To select
a book, click on the title.
For each book, the following eight data sets will appear:
Click on the Information about the eight data sets icon below the book
title to see a brief explanation of the information in each data set. Click
on the underlined titles or use the drop-down menus to access the information.
For a complete discussion of the information and how to use the data to choose
or supplement curriculum materials, click the Applying the Results
navigation button on the left-hand side of the screen.
The Typical Sightings charts are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The
Graphs can be viewed or printed as PDFs by clicking on "View/Print PDF
Version" in the bottom left-hand corner of each graph screen. To adjust
your view in a PDF file, select the zoom-in tool in the tool bar at the top
of the screen. For more precise zooming, trace a rectangle around an area
by dragging the zoom-in tool. Click on the magnification button in the bottom
left-hand corner of the screen to select a percentage magnification. Adjust
the page view anytime by clicking on one of the page view buttons in the tool
bar at the top of the screen.
COMPARE DATA
Click the Compare Data navigation button to view two different data
sets at the same time (a) from the same book or (b) from two different books.
Choose two different textbooks or the same textbook by using the drop-down
menus on either side of the screen. The Content Analyses, Instructional Analyses,
and Graphs for all 13 textbooks can be viewed side by side.
(a)
(b)
To choose a Graph, click on the Graphs tab on either side of the
screen. Place the cursor over any of the 12 buttons to see the titles of the
graphs in the form of a tooltip ()
or a status bar message (,
). Place the cursor
over the Roman numerals in the graphs to see the titles of the instructional
categories and criteria.
To choose a Content Analysis, click on the Content Analysis tab on either side
of the screen. Place the cursor over the 6 buttons to see the name of the
benchmark addressed in each analysis and click on your choice.
To choose an Instructional Analysis, click on the Instructional Analysis tab
on either side of the screen. Place the cursor over the 7 buttons to see the
name of the instructional category addressed in each analysis and click on
your choice.
PROJECT 2061 ANALYSIS PROCEDURE
Click the Project 2061 Analysis Procedure navigation button to learn
about the procedure the analysts used to evaluate both content and instruction
in the 13 middle school mathematics textbooks.
EVALUATION METHODS
Click the Evaluation Methods navigation button to learn who participated
in the analysis and how it was conducted.
USING THE CD-ROM
Click the Using the CD-ROM navigation button to read or print out these
instructions while in the CD-ROM.
APPLYING THE RESULTS
Click the Applying the Results navigation button to learn how educators
can use the information in the report and the eight data sets on the CD-ROM
to help them choose or supplement curriculum materials.
