DACTM_2008

=Welcome!=

At the DACTM conference on November 8, 2008, I presented 2 sessions using The Geometer's Sketchpad (from Key Curricululm Press). Sketches and other files for those sessions are below. So is other information on The Geometer's Sketchpad.

= = =LessonLink for The Geometer's Sketchpad=

Key Press has just released a great tool that makes using Sketchpad even easier!

Teachers can subscribe to LessonLink and have full access to over 500 (and growing) Sketchpad lessons, including the needed sketch files, student activity sheets, and teacher notes. Numerous video tutorials and "cheat sheets" for many of the features and tools in Sketchpad are also provided.

And, to make even better use of teacher preparation time, lessons have been aligned to many of the nationally used mathematics textbooks. So, a teacher can ask the software to display just those activities/lessons which mesh with, say, Discovering Algebra - Chapter 3, Lesson 2. What a great timesaver!

For more information on Sketchpad LessonLink, visit [|Key Press On-Line]. =Teaching Algebra with The Geometer's Sketchpad=

Teaching algebra with a graphing calculator is great. Teaching algebra with Sketchpad can be even better!

Why?
 * 1) Sketchpad has numerous student activities and sketches already created for algebra topics from the most basic (number families, number properties, solving simple equations) to the more complex (working with trig functions and Calculus applications).
 * 2) Sketchpad enables us to use multiple representations of functions (tables, graphs, symbolic forms, verbal forms) all together on the same screen.
 * 3) Sketchpad is dynamic - changes in one representation affect changes in the others.
 * 4) Sketchpad runs in FULL COLOR, making it easy for ALL students to make connetions between representations.
 * 5) Sketchpad is dynamic - again - the animation features allow students to see numerous graphs generated via automatically adjusted parameters, or by activating control tools ("sliders").
 * 6) Sketchpad can enable students to combine algebra and geometry knowledge as this one tool handles both strands.

Resources Available

Curriculum Resource Books/Sketches from Key Curriculum Press

NOTE: "Exploring Algebra 1..." meshes well with the Michigan 6-8 GLCE and some Algebra 1 HSCE. "Exploring Algebra 2..." meshes well with the Michigan grade 8 GLCE, Algebra 1 HSCE, and some Algebra 2 HSCE. "Pythagoras..." meshes great with the Michigan grade 8 GLCE dealing with Pythagorean Theorem, plus any HSCE dealing with Pythagorean Theorem. "Exploring Conics..." meshes well with the Michigan HSCE for Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus. "Exploring Calculus..." meshes well with the Michigan some HSCE for Pre-Calculus and beyond.
 * [|Exploring Algebra 1 with The Geomter's Sketchpad]
 * [|Exploring Algebra 2 with The Geomter's Sketchpad]
 * [|Exploring Conic Sections with The Geomter's Sketchpad]
 * [|Pythagoras Plugged In: Proofs and Problems for the Geometer's Sketchpad]
 * [|Exploring PreCalculus with The Geomter's Sketchpad]
 * [|Exploring Calculus with The Geomter's Sketchpad]

Many of these have sample activities posted for you to try you.

Other resources: [|MathBits.com] - Has several nice Sketchpad activities and sketches including... [|Hitting the Slopes with Skibird]

[|Functions] - an excellent chance to work with parent functions and their offspring

[|Susan Polk's Sketchpad Library] - Technological Ed

You can see a number of Sketchpad resources on my Geometer's Sketchpad page. Ones we're using today in our session include the following:

Introducing Dynagraphs - from Exploring Algebra 2 with The Geometer's Sketchpad

Domain and Range - from Exploring Algebra 2 with The Geometer's Sketchpad

Function Composition with Dynagraphs - from Exploring Algebra 2 with The Geometer's Sketchpad

Translating Functions - from Exploring Algebra 2 with The Geometer's Sketchpad

Stretching Functions - from Exploring Algebra 2 with The Geometer's Sketchpad

Absolute Value Functions - from Exploring Algebra 2 with The Geometer's Sketchpad

Solving Linear Equations by Balancing - from Exploring Algebra 1 with The Geometer's Sketchpad