Explore Graphing Calculator and Geometry Apps (Part 1)

GeoGebra
22 Apr 202059:02

TLDRIn this webinar, Tim Brzezinski explores GeoGebra's Graphing Calculator and Geometry apps. He discusses their pedagogical uses, highlighting how they can foster active, student-centered learning. Despite the removal of geometric construction features for exam compliance, the apps remain powerful for discovery-based math education. Tim demonstrates functionalities like plotting points, graphing functions, and regression analysis, emphasizing the apps' user-friendly nature and their potential for mathematical modeling and conceptual understanding.

Takeaways

  • 📘 The webinar focuses on exploring GeoGebra's graphing calculator and geometry apps, with the potential for multiple sessions to cover all features.
  • 👨‍🏫 Tim Brzezinski, the presenter, has a background in teaching high school math and is passionate about active, student-centered, discovery-based learning.
  • 🌐 GeoGebra is a community-driven platform with a vast array of resources available for educators to utilize in their classrooms.
  • 📱 The graphing calculator app by GeoGebra was updated to be exam compliant, removing certain geometric construction features for standardization in testing environments.
  • 📐 The geometry app is well-suited for teaching and learning geometric constructions and can be used pedagogically to foster student learning.
  • 🔢 The graphing calculator allows for immediate calculations and graphing of functions, making it a valuable tool for teaching algebra and pre-calculus.
  • 📊 The app enables dynamic discovery learning, such as exploring the concept of correlation coefficients through data plotting and manipulation.
  • 📈 Users can perform regression analysis and graphing of complex mathematical models, like compound interest over time.
  • 🌍 GeoGebra's graphing calculator offers unique features like pinch-to-zoom axis adjustment, not found in traditional handheld calculators.
  • 🔄 The geometry app allows for the exploration of transformational geometry, including translations, rotations, reflections, and dilations.

Q & A

  • Who is the presenter of the webinar on GeoGebra apps?

    -The presenter is Tim Brzezinski, the professional development director at GeoGebra.

  • What is Tim Brzezinski's background before joining GeoGebra?

    -Before joining GeoGebra, Tim Brzezinski was a full-time independent math consultant for about two and a half years, and prior to that, he taught high school math for 15 years at Berlin High School in Connecticut.

  • What is the main focus of the webinar?

    -The main focus of the webinar is to explore GeoGebra's graphing calculator and geometry apps, with an emphasis on how they can be used pedagogically to foster active, student-centered, discovery-based learning.

  • Why did GeoGebra remove geometric construction features from the graphing calculator?

    -GeoGebra removed geometric construction features from the graphing calculator to create an app that is exam compliant with many districts and state departments of education worldwide.

  • What is the significance of the change made on February 6th in GeoGebra's graphing calculator?

    -On February 6th, GeoGebra removed all geometric construction features from the graphing calculator to ensure the app is exam compliant, aligning with requirements from various educational governing bodies.

  • How does the graphing calculator app differ from the geometry app in terms of exam compliance?

    -The graphing calculator app is designed to be exam compliant, meaning it has limited functionality to meet the standards of various educational assessments, unlike the geometry app which offers more tools and is not restricted for exam use.

  • What is the advantage of using GeoGebra's graphing calculator over traditional handheld calculators?

    -GeoGebra's graphing calculator offers instant computation and graphical representation of mathematical expressions and equations, allowing for easier discovery and understanding of mathematical concepts compared to traditional handheld calculators.

  • What is the role of the community in GeoGebra?

    -The community plays a significant role in GeoGebra by sharing resources, activities, and knowledge, contributing to the development and enhancement of the platform, making it a collaborative and supportive environment for educators and students.

  • How can teachers work around district restrictions on student account creation for GeoGebra?

    -Teachers can use a workaround through Google Classroom or create class accounts themselves since GeoGebra allows a teacher to have an account to save and share constructions and activities with students.

  • What is the benefit of the 'list' tool in GeoGebra's graphing calculator app?

    -The 'list' tool allows users to create and manipulate sets of data points easily, enabling quick calculations and graphical representations, which is particularly useful for statistical analysis and discovery learning.

  • How does the geometry app facilitate the discovery of mathematical concepts like parallel and perpendicular lines?

    -The geometry app allows users to construct and manipulate geometric figures, such as creating parallel lines and perpendicular lines with a few clicks. It provides tools to measure and compare slopes, angles, and other properties, enabling students to discover geometric principles through interactive exploration.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Introduction to GeoGebra

The webinar begins with an introduction to GeoGebra, a suite of math tools including a graphing calculator and geometry app. The presenter, Tim Brzezinski, shares his background in teaching and passion for active, student-centered learning. He highlights the versatility of GeoGebra and its community-driven nature, encouraging participants to create an account for accessing and saving resources. Tim also mentions the recent update that separated the graphing calculator and geometry features for exam compliance reasons.

05:01

📈 Exploring the Graphing Calculator App

This section delves into the features of GeoGebra's graphing calculator app. Tim explains the removal of geometric construction tools to ensure the app's compliance with various educational exams. He demonstrates basic functionalities like plotting points, graphing equations, and using the app for algebraic calculations. The presenter also discusses the app's instant computation abilities and its potential for fostering student discovery and learning.

10:03

🔢 Calculator Capabilities and Discovery Learning

Tim showcases the graphing calculator's capabilities, such as computing trigonometric functions and generating tables of values. He emphasizes the app's user-friendly nature and its effectiveness in discovery-based learning. The presenter provides examples of how to use the app to teach concepts like correlation coefficients, illustrating an interactive approach where students can manipulate data points and observe changes in real-time.

15:04

📊 Practical Uses of the Graphing Calculator in Teaching

The presenter discusses practical classroom applications of the graphing calculator, such as teaching linear regression. He suggests an activity where students plot data points and use the app to calculate correlation coefficients, promoting a deeper understanding of statistical concepts. Tim also touches on the app's ability to handle compound interest problems and its potential for mathematical modeling.

20:04

📐 Transition to the Geometry App

The focus shifts to GeoGebra's geometry app, which offers tools for geometric constructions and problem-solving. Tim demonstrates the app's intuitive interface and its potential for use beyond geometry classes. He introduces the concept of using the app for algebraic purposes and hints at the possibility of exploring more features in future sessions.

25:07

🤔 Deeper Dive into Geometrical Constructions

In this part, Tim explores the geometry app's capabilities for creating geometric constructions. He shows how to measure angles, use the angle tool, and verify the angle sum of a triangle. The presenter also discusses the app's settings for displaying quantitative or qualitative descriptions and its adaptability for various educational levels.

30:07

🔄 Exploring Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Tim uses the geometry app to demonstrate concepts of parallel and perpendicular lines. He guides viewers on how to use the app to discover that parallel lines share the same slope and perpendicular lines have slopes that are opposite reciprocals. This section emphasizes the app's role in enabling students to rediscover and understand mathematical concepts through interactive learning.

35:08

🔄 Transformational Geometry with GeoGebra

The presenter introduces transformational geometry within the app, focusing on translations, rotations, and reflections. Tim shows how to use the app's tools to perform these transformations and suggests activities that让学生 can explore to deepen their understanding of geometric concepts. He also mentions the app's potential for real-world applications and promises to continue the exploration in part two of the webinar.

40:10

📸 Reflecting Images and Concluding the Session

In a fun and engaging demonstration, Tim shows how to use the geometry app to reflect images, using a selfie as an example. He guides viewers through the process of creating a line of symmetry and reflecting an image across it. This interactive approach provides a visual and memorable conclusion to the session, while also encouraging creative uses of the app. Tim wraps up by announcing the continuation of the webinar in part two.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡GeoGebra

GeoGebra is dynamic mathematics software that combines geometry, algebra, spreadsheets, graphing, statistics, and calculus. It is used to teach and explore different mathematical concepts. In the video, the presenter explores two specific apps within GeoGebra: the Graphing Calculator and the Geometry App, demonstrating how they can be used pedagogically to engage students in active, discovery-based learning.

💡Graphing Calculator

The Graphing Calculator app within GeoGebra allows users to plot graphs of algebraic functions and explore their properties. It is mentioned in the script as being streamlined for exam compliance, which means it has limited functionality compared to the full GeoGebra Classic app to meet the requirements of various educational authorities.

💡Geometry App

The Geometry App is an app designed for creating geometric constructions and exploring geometric principles. It includes tools for drawing shapes, measuring angles, and constructing classic geometric figures. The script highlights its use for discovery learning, such as understanding the properties of parallel and perpendicular lines.

💡Discovery Learning

Discovery learning is an educational method that encourages students to actively participate in the learning process by exploring, investigating, and discovering information for themselves. The video's host, Tim Brzezinski, emphasizes this approach, showing how GeoGebra apps can be used to facilitate such learning experiences in mathematics.

💡Exam Compliant

Exam compliant refers to the adherence of an app or tool to the rules and regulations set by educational authorities for use in assessments. The Graphing Calculator app is described as being exam compliant, meaning it has been stripped of certain features to meet the standards required for use in formal testing environments.

💡Community

GeoGebra has a strong focus on community, where users share resources, activities, and lessons created within the app. The script mentions that there are over 2,000 resources available for teachers to use, fostering a collaborative environment where educators can leverage each other's work.

💡Trigonometry

Trigonometry is the branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the angles and sides of triangles. In the script, trigonometric functions are used as examples of how the Graphing Calculator app can handle calculations and graphing of trigonometric functions, automatically assuming radian measure when 'pi' is used.

💡Regression

Regression is a statistical method used to model the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. The script describes how teachers can use the Graphing Calculator app to teach linear regression by having students plot data points and observe the correlation coefficient changing in real-time.

💡Transformational Geometry

Transformational geometry involves the study of how geometric figures change under various transformations such as translations, rotations, reflections, and dilations. The script gives an example of how to use the Geometry App to perform these transformations on geometric figures, such as reflecting an image about a line.

💡Slider

A slider is a user interface element that allows for the input of a value within a given range. In GeoGebra, sliders can be used to dynamically adjust parameters of geometric constructions or algebraic expressions. The script demonstrates creating a slider to adjust the angle of rotation in a geometric construction.

💡Symmetry

Symmetry in geometry refers to the property of a figure that can be divided into parts that are mirror images of each other. The script explores the concept of symmetry by using the Geometry App to reflect an image, such as a selfie, to show what the other half of the face would look like if the face were perfectly symmetrical.

Highlights

Introduction to GeoGebra's graphing calculator and geometry apps.

The webinar will explore these apps in a series, with part one focusing on basic functionalities.

Presenter Tim Brzezinski shares his passion for active, student-centered, discovery-based learning.

GeoGebra's main page and the benefits of creating an account for saving constructions.

The new GeoGebra interface introduces four icons for different educational levels.

GeoGebra's community resources include over 2,000 activities for active learning.

Exploring the graphing calculator app and its transition to an exam-compliant tool.

GeoGebra's graphing calculator app is free for educational assessment purposes.

Basic functionalities of the graphing calculator app despite the removal of geometric construction features.

How to use the graphing calculator for discovery learning in teaching regression.

Demonstration of plotting data points and discovering the correlation coefficient.

Using the graphing calculator for compound interest problems and modeling.

Switching to the geometry app and its simplicity for various educational uses.

The geometry app's default display is qualitative, suitable for younger students.

Measuring angles in a triangle and verifying the sum using the geometry app.

How to save and share GeoGebra constructions with students and teachers.

Discovery learning using the geometry app to understand parallel and perpendicular lines.

Transformational geometry activities within the geometry app.

Using images and reflections to teach symmetry and transformational geometry.

Announcement of part two of the webinar series to explore more features.