BetterExplained is, as the name suggests, a concise way to learn math. This is done through online resources as well as printable downloadable content.
Created by Princeton University graduate Kalid Azad, this platform offers a way to teach and learn otherwise complex and challenging mathematical techniques in a simple way.
Azad, a computer science graduate who has tutored mathematics for years, said he loves finding the clearest, most intuitive ideas on seemingly complicated topics. In this, he has done just that and shares it with anyone who wants to learn mathematics.
The site comprises article-style online resources, PDF documents, and video-based offerings. There's more, without it being too overwhelming.
This guide aims to clarify what you can get from all of this to see if it could be useful in your classroom.
What is better explained?
Better explained is an online resource space that offers articles, PDF documents, videos, quizzes, slides, discussion topics, and more as ways to teach mathematical concepts.
BetterExplained is aimed at everyone, starting simpler and growing in complexity as you go. So while most people could follow the first five lessons, you may need to have some knowledge of algebra to go further.
The idea here is not only to show you how to do the calculations but, more importantly, why it is done that way. It is described as a teaching by which the big picture is shown and made clear, rather than loading it into parts that have to be taken into account before arriving at that final picture for greater understanding.
That should mean that you can help students develop a lasting, more intuitive understanding of calculus that goes beyond specific formulas.
How does BetterExplain work?
BetterExplained offers many articles on its website, but also downloadable PDF lessons and videos. All this is available without the need to register or any details to start using it immediately.
While most of the resources mentioned are free, BetterExplained also offers more complex materials, such as quizzes, slides, and video tutorials of lessons, but they come at a cost.
Students could be directed to the site or to specific concept articles, which they could work on on their own, perhaps in preparation for a classroom lesson on the topic. Or these resources could be used in class to help illustrate points when beginning to teach a new concept.
Since everything is online, it can be accessed from almost any device, making it easy to share with students in class and beyond.
What are the best features of BetterExplained?
BetterExplained is very easy to use with a clear, if slightly dated, layout of all the information. The articles are divided into sections such as calculus, computer science, essays, advanced mathematics, algebra, basic concepts of mathematics, exponents and registers, geometry and more.
They're all laid out on one page so you can scroll and click on anything that seems useful to you – great for browsing, but not perfect if you want to search for a specific lesson topic.
BetterExplained offers a Cheatsheet section that helps students learn in an explained way with more background and clarity. It offers sections like Intuitive Learning that feature lessons like “Analogies, useful even if they're wrong,” “Mathematical intuition, starts with the cat, not its DNA,” and “Cartoons, simplify an idea to create a cartoon.”
The Colored section is excellent as it presents common formulas and breaks down each one with explanations. It uses colors in the formula that match the words in the explanation so you can clearly see what is happening in the formula and how it can be useful to you.
A very useful Calculus section offers multiple lessons to teach the subject, which can be viewed directly online or taken as a full course with videos and more.
How much does BetterExplain cost?
BetterExplained offers most of its resources for free, but it also offers a paid option that goes deeper.
He Free Resources include texts from online courses, as well as all articles and resources related to explaining algebra.
Go for him Complete course in calculus, in $99and you'll get print-quality PDFs, video tutorials, per-lesson class discussions, slides, quizzes, and class webinar invitations.
Better tips and tricks better explained
Introduce a concept
Use the resources to allow students to start a new topic outside of class, using a link you send, so that when they arrive at the lesson they already understand some of the topic.
Explain algebra
Use the colored tool to explain key mathematical formulas in an engaging, fun and clear way before delving deeper.
Vary teaching styles
Use the Cheatsheet section as a way to get inspired about different ways to teach and think about communicating math concepts to students.
