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™ 12 videodisc-based adventures that focus on mathematical problem

finding and problem solving.

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).

Jasper adventures are designed for students in grades 5 and up.

Each videodisc contains a short (approximately 17 minute) video adventure that ends in a complex challenge.

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.

Jasper adventures also contain "embedded teaching" episodes that provide models of particular approaches to solving problems.

These episodes can be revisited on a "just-in-time" basis as students need them to solve the Jasper challenges.

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

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/

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.

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?

Each Jasper episode contains three (3) CD-ROMs (story disc, teacher disc, and teacher manual disc)*. 

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.

Viewing is usually done as a whole-class activity; then students solve the problem individually, in small groups, or as a whole class.

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.

Available for PCs running Microsoft Windows.  MAC OS X IS NOT SUPPORTED at this time

*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 episodes12 episodes

4 mathematical content areas based on NCTM recommendations for middle-grade curriculum:

distance/rate/timestatistics geometryalgebra

5 real-world context themes:complex trip planning

business planning architectural design

way-findingSmart Tool building

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

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.

Students are challenged to help Jasper determine if he can make it home before sunset without running out of fuel.

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.

Appropriate for grades 5 up, some 4th grade classes report success in using

Contents of Class room Disc (Disc 1/3)

Menu options ADVENTURE VIDEO: This video is the

original Jasper story and challenge. The adventure may be played with subtitles in either English or Spanish.

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

DIALOGUE SEARCH TOOL: Use keywords used in the adventure to return to that scene

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 tipsThis section provides ideas for teaching with Jasper which are uniquely relevant to the specific episode.

• Solution/CreditsThis is a presentation of one of the possible solutions to the problem, based on a particular set of assumptions.

• General teaching tipsThis video offers general suggestions for using the Jasper series.

• Series overviewThis overview of the series includes scenes of Jasper being used in the classroom and provides a useful introduction for those new to Jasper.

• Adventure previewsOrganized 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 CHALLENGEThis section of the manual provides materials that will assist you in guiding the students through the solution-construction process

IV. EXTENDING THE LEARNING EXPERIENCEThis 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 MATERIALSThis section contains handouts and other information that the students and teacher will find useful when solving the adventure

VI. METRIC MATERIALSThis 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 You may purchase each episode of the Adventures of Jasper Woodbury (media and license) for $150 at

VU e-Innovations (http://vueinnovations.com/)

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.

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).

Checkout Instructions for Institutional Buyers and Purchasing Agents

Jarsper Series can be purchased using credit card payment or by Purchase Orders

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