Using Geometer's Sketchpad

Geometry is one of the most visual courses in high school mathematics. The Geometer's Sketchpad is an electronic ruler and compass for today's technological geometry classroom. This module is designed to familiarize teachers with this new tool through interactive tutorials and then to demonstrate how it can be used effectively in the teaching of geometry.

Credit: 1 grad. sem. hr. or 3 CEUs.

Using the Geometer's Sketchpad in the Mathematics Classroom was written by Jeremy Bartusch of the University of Illinois in November 1996. It was revised by Tony Peressini in January 1998, and by Tom Anderson in March 2004 and again in October 2011 for Sketchpad Version 5.

Detailed Description

Geometry is one of the most visual courses in high school mathematics. Ruler and compass constructions are the backbone of this visual presentation. At last, technology has caught up to the ruler and compass! The Geometer's Sketchpad is an electronic ruler and compass for today's technological classroom.
This module is designed as an interactive tutorial on how to use the Geometer's Sketchpad software, and an introduction to how this application can be used to teach geometry and to produce classroom resources with plane geometry components.
Module 9, Dynamic Geometry With Geometer's Sketchpad, proceedes much further with the instructional uses of this remarkable software.

Required Materials

In addition to the general requirements for participating in Math Teacher Link, this module also has the following requirement:

The Geometer's Sketchpad application (version 4 or higher) needs to be installed on the computer you will use.
Go to the Geometer's Sketchpad home page of Key Curriculum Press, the makers of the software. This page has information, resources and support for The Geometer's Sketchpad software. Follow their information and pricing link to order the current version of Geometer's Sketchpad software for either your Mac or Windows machine ($69.95 - single user). Install the program on your machine according to the instructions that come with the program.
We have stayed with Geometer's Sketchpad rather than go with GeoGebra because we find that using well supported and well documented software saves valuable time and aligns well with other published materials. It is the same reason we use Word rather than OpenOffice for our word processing.

Step by Step Instructions

For Geometer's Sketchpad beginners, it is likely that completion of the five interactive tutorials will require about 35 hours. The time required for the classroom project will depend on the size and complexity of the project you select, expect the final project to take about 10 hours to complete.
You need to first download the files associated with the module; the files are attached at the bottom of this page. After you have downloaded the appropriate module files folder for your operating system (PC or Macintosh) and have installed Geometer's Sketchpad, you are ready to begin. Proceed as follows:

STEP #1

The GSP Tool Palette and Construct Menu Tutorial.

In the files you have downloaded, there will be a file named "4.1_Tool_Constr". This file is an introduction to the use of the palettes and the Construct Menu in Geometer's Sketchpad. Open this file and you will find a series of tasks that you are to complete. Complete them and the save the file with the name Assignment_4.1 (or Assg_4.1 if your computer insists on 8 character file names).

STEP #2
The Measure Menu and Graph Menu Tutorial

In the files you have downloaded, there will be a file named "4.2_Measure". This file is an introduction to the use of the Measure and Graph menus in Geometer's Sketchpad. Open this file and you will find a series of tasks that you are to complete. Complete these tasks and then save this file with the name Assignment_4.2 (or Assg_4.2 if your computer insists on 8 character file names).

STEP #3
Creating Custom Tools for Geometric Constructions.

In the files you have downloaded, there will be a file named "4.3_Custom_Tools". Open this file. The file contains a series of problems that ask you to create Custom Tools to do prescribed geometric constructions. Complete these tasks, saving the three files with the names given in the directions, then submit all three files into the Assignment 4.3 folder in ClassComm (Shorten the file names if your computer restricts file names to 8 characters).

STEP #4
Using GSP in other mathematical documents.

In the files you have downloaded, there will be a file named "4.4_Imp_Exp". Open this file and you will find a series of tasks and problems in which you are asked to create classroom resources and other documents that integrate GSP with other applications such as Microsoft Word. Create these classroom resources documents according to the directions given in the file "4.4_Imp_Exp", then submit all four files into the Assignment 4.4 folder in ClassComm (Shorten the file names if your computer restricts file name to 8 characters).

STEP #5
Using the Graphing Features in GSP.

In the files you have downloaded, there will be a file named "4.5_Graphing". Open this file and you will find a series of tasks and problems in which you are asked to create graphs and manipulate those graphs with sliders. Carry out the tasks called for in "4.5_Graphing", including changing the name on your worked copy to "Assignment_5 ", then submit this "Assignment_5" file into the Assignment 4.5 folder in ClassComm (Shorten the file names if your computer restricts file name to 8 characters).

STEP #6
Select a project (or projects) that would be useful to you in your teaching, and then e-mail a brief description of your Final Project project to us before you start it.

When you have completed the previous 5 steps, you will have a strong grasp of the capabilities of the Geometer's Sketchpad and its potential for enhancing your ability to teach geometry. Your final project is to create a classroom unit for a geometry class that incorporates the use of the Geometer's Sketchpad. The lesson should be at least one class period in length. The subject matter and grade level of your target unit is your choice. However, we do ask that you send us and email at sketchpad@mtl.math.uiuc.edu with a brief description of the unit before you proceed. Your project should include a brief description of the project, a more detailed lesson plan, as well as any class handouts or computer files that you create for the unit.

We also urge you to call us to discuss your ideas - we may be able to make some helpful suggestions.

STEP #7

Complete your Final Project.

You will need to submit your Final Project to us using the Hand In link provided at the top.

Dynamic Geometry with Geometer's Sketchpad is a great follow-up module to this module.

Attachment	Size
Version 4.0 for either Windows or Mac.zip	246.49 KB
Version 5.0 for either Windows or Mac.zip	419.19 KB