The Benefits of Geometers Sketchpad GSP and Why We Should Adopt It

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The Benefits of Geometers Sketchpad (GSP) and Why
We Should Adopt It

• Angela Heiden
• CEP 805

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Why should we adopt GSP?

• GSP allows us to automate, simplify and transform
  tasks
• GSP gives us multiple ways to represent knowledge
  and thinking
• GSP increases our bag of teaching tricks because
  it enables us to reach our students in different
  ways.
• GSP can be used for multiple classes (Geometry,
  Trigonometry, Methods courses)

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Automating, Simplifying and Transforming Tasks

• Students can draw multiple constructions in very
  little time
• Students can make different changes to a
  construction and not have to redraw it
• Mistakes are easy to fix, just undo

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Representing Knowledge and Thinking

• Students can manipulate drawings to see how area
  and perimeter are related
• Students can manipulate drawings of triangles to
  see how all angles add to 180 degrees.
• Students can use it to explore the Pythagorean
  theorem

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Students learn in different ways. GSP increases
our bag of teaching tricks

• For students who are visual learners, they can
  experiment with the drawings and see how things
  are effected.
• Students can be given hands-on lessons. Students
  learn by doing.

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GSP and Geometry

• GSP can be used to draw constructions much
  quicker than by hand.
• Students can manipulate a figure and see how area
  and perimeter are related.
• Many lessons are available on the internet.
• http//mathforum.org/dynamic/sketchpad.weblinks.ht
  ml

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GSP and Trigonometry

• Students can draw multiple triangles, do
  calculations and see how all angles add to 180
  degrees regardless of the size. All of this can
  be done using GSP.
• GSP can be used to help explain difficult
  concepts like the ambiguous Law of Sines

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GSP and Methods Courses

• Children learn by doing and enjoy using software.
• There are many lessons on the internet geared
  towards younger children.
• http//mathforum.org/sketchpad/littleones/

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Conclusion

• GSP allows us to automate, simplify and transform
  tasks
• GSP gives us multiple ways to represent knowledge
  and thinking
• GSP gives us other ways to teach our students and
  can increase learning
• GSP is applicable to many mathematics classes

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Lets adopt GSP now and improve our teaching and
students learning