The Adventures of
Jasper Woodbury™
videodisc-based adventures that focus on
mathematical problem finding and problem solving
Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization, 03/19/2014
The Adventures of Jasper Woodbury™
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12 videodisc-based adventures that focus on mathematical problem finding and
problem solving.
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In particular, each adventure provides multiple opportunities for problem solving,
reasoning, communication and making connections to other areas such as science,
social studies, literature and history (NCTM, 1989; 1991).
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Jasper adventures are designed for students in grades 5 and up.
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Each videodisc contains a short (approximately 17 minute) video adventure that
ends in a complex challenge.
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The adventures are designed like good detective novels where all the data
necessary to solve the adventure (plus additional data that are not relevant to the
solution) are embedded in the story.
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Jasper adventures also contain "embedded teaching" episodes that provide models
of particular approaches to solving problems.
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These episodes can be revisited on a "just-in-time" basis as students need them to
solve the Jasper challenges.
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Each adventure is designed from the perspective of the standards recommended
by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
About the Adventures of Jasper
WoodburyTM Authors
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The Jasper series was developed by the Learning Technology Center of Vanderbilt
University’s Peabody College of education and human development. The Jasper
series was the culmination of several years of effort to create enriched learning
environments that foster the development of mathematics problem-solving
skills. For information on the research please visit,
http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/projects/funded/jasper/
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For 2014, U.S. News & World Report ranked Peabody the No. 1 graduate school of
education nationwide, Peabody's fifth consecutive year in the top spot.
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Vanderbilt University is a major research university for education in science and
math learning, special education, and gifted education. For more information on
our programs visit,
http://www.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/Faculty_and_Research.xml
How does it work?
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Each Jasper episode contains three (3) CD-ROMs (story disc, teacher disc, and
teacher manual disc)*.
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Details on how to use Jasper are outlined in the teachers’ manuals. A central
activity is sharing a common context by initially viewing the video adventure,
followed by participating in activities to solve the challenge posed at the end
of the episode.
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Viewing is usually done as a whole-class activity; then students solve the
problem individually, in small groups, or as a whole class.
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The Jasper video, however, can be used for much more than the one
challenge presented in the episode. The adventure provides a context for
extending the materials beyond mathematics into other curricular areas.
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Available for PCs running Microsoft Windows. MAC OS X IS NOT SUPPORTED at
this time
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*All video content is integrated into the CD-ROMs. No videotape or DVD is
included with the CD-ROMs (despite a Teacher's Manual misprint).
Synopses of the Jasper Adventure episodes
12 episodes
4 mathematical content areas
based on NCTM
recommendations for middlegrade curriculum:
distance/rate/time
statistics
geometry
algebra
5 real-world context themes:
complex trip planning
business planning
architectural design
way-finding
Smart Tool building
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http://jasper.vueinnovations.com/sites/default/files/public/d17/n185/jasper_episode_comparison.xls (Please refer to this Excel
spreadsheet for detailed information about how students are engaged by each episode.)
Example of one Episode:
Complex Trip Planning 1: Journey to Cedar Creek
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Students meet Jasper as he reads a newspaper
ad for an old boat for sale. Jasper decides to
see this boat, and we follow him up the river to
Cedar Creek Marina. He test drives the boat
and learns the running lights don't work. He
decides to buy the boat.
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Students are challenged to help Jasper
determine if he can make it home before sunset
without running out of fuel.
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With 1 route, 1 mode of transportation, 1
speed, 1 fuel consideration, 1 driver and
budget, Journey to Cedar Creek is the least
complex of the Jasper trip planning problems.
The major sub problems in this adventure
involve travel time and fuel, and money also
becomes an issue when students realize Jasper
will need to purchase more fuel. As with each
episode, students must generate the sub
problems, identify relevant data and carry out
the calculations to solve this approximately 15
step problem.
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Appropriate for grades 5 up, some 4th grade
classes report success in using
Contents of Class room Disc (Disc 1/3)
Menu options
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ADVENTURE VIDEO: This video is the original
Jasper story and challenge. The adventure
may be played with subtitles in either
English or Spanish.
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MAP SEARCH TOOL: This tool provides a
visual way to select the scenes from
adventure making it easy to revisit the video
during problem solving
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DIALOGUE SEARCH TOOL: Use keywords used
in the adventure to return to that scene
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ANALOGOUS PROBLEMS: This section takes
the original Jasper story problem and alters
it in various ways to create new problems.
The analogs provide additional experience
with problems similar to those solved during
the adventure and extend learning into
related topics.
Features
available
for
ADVENTURE
VIDEO
section
“The Challenge” screen shots at the
end of ADVENTURE VIDEO
Contents of Teacher Disc (Disc 2/3)
The teacher CD contains materials for the teacher that are specific to this
adventure and information about the entire Jasper series.
• Specific teaching tips
This section provides ideas for teaching with Jasper which are uniquely
relevant to the specific episode.
• Solution/Credits
This is a presentation of one of the possible solutions to the problem,
based on a particular set of assumptions.
• General teaching tips
This video offers general suggestions for using the Jasper series.
• Series overview
This overview of the series includes scenes of Jasper being used in the
classroom and provides a useful introduction for those new to Jasper.
• Adventure previews
Organized into mathematical content areas, this video segment
introduces you to each Jasper adventure in the series.
Contents of Teacher’s Manual (Disc 3/3)
I Teacher’s Manual
II. TEACHING “JOURNEY TO CEDAR CREEK”
This section provides teachers with the information they need to use the “Journey to Cedar Creek” Jasper
adventure in the classroom. Teachers will find this information to be a helpful guide in planning the class and
reference during instruction on the adventure.
III. SOLVING THE CHALLENGE
This section of the manual provides materials that will assist you in guiding the students through the solutionconstruction process
IV. EXTENDING THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
This section presents analogous problems—additional problems featured on the tape and Classroom CD— and ideas
for extending the experience into other areas of the curriculum
V. STUDENT MATERIALS
This section contains handouts and other information that the students and teacher will find useful when solving
the adventure
VI. METRIC MATERIALS
This section gives approximate metric conversions of English measurement data presented in the Jasper
adventure. These materials are provided for those teachers who would like their students to use metric
measurements rather than English measures to solve the adventure.
Purchasing information
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You may purchase each episode of the Adventures of Jasper Woodbury (media and license) for $150 at
VU e-Innovations (http://vueinnovations.com/)
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VU e-Innovations is sponsored by the Vanderbilt University Center for Technology Transfer and
Commercialization (CTTC), which markets innovative software, courseware and other specialized products
developed at Vanderbilt University. Learn how applied research at Vanderbilt University is making a
difference in today's world -- visit the CTTC website.
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Please note that a single shipping & handling charge of $10 domestic / $30 international will be
automatically added to each Adventures of Jasper Woodbury order (for any number of episodes at any
quantity).
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Checkout Instructions for Institutional Buyers and Purchasing Agents
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Jarsper Series can be purchased using credit card payment or by Purchase Orders
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Purchase Orders: If you intend to submit a purchase order, you must FIRST submit an online order for timely order
processing.
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