The activities are based on national mathematics standards and aeronautic content guidelines. The target age level for year 1 is 4th grade, for year 2 is 5th grade and for year 3 is 6th and 7th grades. The Internet offers advantages and disadvantages as a medium for providing aeronautics-based math activities. We have re-examined the advantages to provide a rationale for the structure of the activities within this project to guide the design process. In order for this project to appeal to classroom teachers and students, the inherent limitations of the Internet were identified and addressed.
Technology is a tool for educating students.
It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Technology is best used as a tool for providing information to students when it can't be done in a better way. Effective use of the Internet to deliver aeronautics-based math activities has been achieved by incorporating the advantages of Internet use into the design. In the first year, the project established Internet access at school sites while designing and installing fourth grade level World Wide Web-based and instructional lessons. The lessons, written in HTML, are competency-based, with learning goals in math, aeronautics, and in the use of the Internet as a learning resource.