Prerequisite
If you are not familiar with Geometer's Sketchpad, you
should work through Using
the Geometer's Sketchpad Module from Math Teacher Link or the Geometer's Sketchpad
Introductory Lab from the Geometry Forum. |
You do not need to hand in any of the work described in
these. On the other hand, we will be assuming, throughout this module, that you have the
level of facility with Geometer's Sketchpad that any of these provide. You be familiar
with:
- Basic construction tools form the Tool Bar
- Constructions from the Construction menu
- Changing the attributes of objects (color, thickness, label)
- Hiding objects
- Measuring quantities
- Tracing and animation
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For those with the prerequisite Geometer's Sketchpad experience, it is likely that it
will require 15-20 hours to complete the lessons. The time required for the classroom
project will depend on the size and complexity of the project you select. 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: Please note that each Lesson and Exercise referred to on this
page, along with this Step-By-Step file, are in the download folder.
You may want to print these out before you begin work on the
Geometer's Sketchpad sketches. |
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STEP #1
Complete this short set of
homework exercises
that will test
your basic knowledge of geometry and of the Geometer's Sketchpad. |
| If you are
enrolled for graduate or continuing education credit, submit Intro HWK through the
Module Hand-In System using your MTL login and password before you go on to Step 2. |
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STEP #2
Work through each of the following lessons,
using the accompanying Geometer's Sketchpad files. Each of these
lessons has a corresponding homework assignment that should be handed
in. |
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| If you are
enrolled for graduate or continuing education credit, submit
Lesson 1 Hwk through Lesson 5 Hwk as you complete them through the
Module Hand-In System using your MTL login and password before you go on to Step 3. |
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STEP #3
Review the projects provided in the Projects folder in the download.
This will give you some idea of how you can use
Geometer's Sketchpad to develop your own teaching materials. Of
course, you are welcome to use these projects, or items from them,
in your own teaching. This should also give you some ideas for
projects of your own. Often, you will be able to borrow and
modify Sketchpad sketches and scripts from these projects for
projects of your own.
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If you are enrolled as an MTL guest or for Continuing
Education Credit, you have just completed the module. Congratulations! Those of you
enrolled for Continuing Education Credit will be sent feedback on the assignments
that you were required to submit.
If you are enrolled in the module for
Graduate Credit, you now have the opportunity to put your Sketchpad
skills to work by creating an approved Final Project that you can use in
your teaching. Proceed to Step 4 for help in selecting, completing and
submitting your Final Project.
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STEP #4
Select a Sketchpad project (or projects) that would be useful to you
in your teaching. Notify us of your choice and give us a brief
description of the project.
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We suggest that you choose something relatively simple for your
first project - you can always tackle more complicated projects later
after you have some confidence in your Sketchpad skills. Try to
incorporate the kinds of ideas you have seen in the lessons --
moving configurations, tracing points, lines or circles, measuring
selected quantities, etc. Your project could consist of a set of
exercises with instructions as text areas right on a Sketchpad sketch
or it could be a Word document containing the instructions accompanied
by any necessary sketches, much as the lessons on this module were
laid out. If you are comfortable with HTML you could even create
a project much like the lessons in the module, but this is certainly
not necessary.
Before you begin work on your Final Project, submit a brief
outline to us by emailing
dynamic@mtl.math.uiuc.edu
or by calling the MTL 800-number. We may be able to make
some helpful suggestions.
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STEP #5
Complete your Final Project. |
You will need to
submit an electonic copy of Final Proj
through the Module Hand In System using your MTL login and password.
That's it folks!
We believe that if you complete these steps, you will acquire the
tools necessary to use the Geometer's Sketchpad, or a similar
geometry package, actively in your teaching. You should also have
gained the background necessary to learn more about this software
as your needs dictate.
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