Concepts and value of TI-Nspire™ Technology Module A

Lesson 2: How does TI-Nspire Technology differ from classical math and science software? Concepts and value of TI-Nspire™ Technology

In the previous lesson you learned that… 3 | Lesson A.2 TI-Nspire Technology combines all commonly used applications in math & science classes. It runs on a handheld, a PC or a Mac. There a two types of TI-Nspire Technology software: TI-Nspire and TI- Nspire CAS. There are three types of handhelds: the Clickpad, the Touchpad and the CX-handhelds. There are three types of computer software: the Student software, the Teacher software and TI-Navigator Teacher software. TI-Nspire TI-Navigator Teacher software creates a wireless network environment, that increases the students’ engagement in class, makes it easy to send documents and assess the students’ progress. If you don't have TI-Nspire computer software, you'll need to download TI-Nspire Computer Link Software in order to connect the handheld to the PC and make screen captures or update the OS.

In the previous lesson you learned that… 4 | Lesson A.2 Several sensors can be connected to the handheld or the computer, to collect data during science experiments. The TI-Nspire Lab Cradle is available to do multi-sensors or fast rate sampling. The built-in Press-To-Test mode temporarily blocks access to all personal data and.tns documents and certain features that can be not allowed during testing. You can create a PublishView document where you can integrate different TI-Nspire applications, rich text and hyperlinks, images and videos on one page. TI-Nspire Technology supports Lua scripting, which is especially interesting for the creation of science simulations on the TI-Nspire platform.

TI-Nspire™ Technology In this lesson you will: Get an overview of the concepts and the value of TI-Nspire Technology for math and science education. Learn how TI-Nspire Technology differs from classical math & science software. See examples of how TI-Nspire Technology can lead to a better understanding of math & science. 5 | Lesson A.2

Graphing calculators Before graphing was introduced to calculators, calculators served mainly as a means to reduce time spent on repetitive calculation and thus increase time spent on higher mathematics. The introduction of the graphing calculator twenty years ago transformed mathematics classrooms because the speed and accuracy of graphs that are generated provided opportunities for increased conceptual understanding. TI-82 StatsTI-84 Plus 6 | Lesson A.2

TI-Nspire not only enhances graphing, but also links algebra to geometry, integrates dynamic geometry with graphing, adds additional representations of math concepts, increases interactivity via grab-and-move of function graphs, provides documents to deepen student work and support more classroom collaboration and formative assessment. TI-Nspire Technology 7 | Lesson A.2

TI-Nspire Technology The TI-Nspire platform includes a handheld device which builds upon features present in previous graphics calculators and adds significant new capabilities. Research has consistently shown that multiple representations increase students’ conceptual understanding of mathematics. TI-Nspire Technology builds on this principle by integrating and linking high quality representations of graphs, geometry, algebraic expressions, data tables and text. 8 | Lesson A.2

Multiple representations increase learners’ conceptual understanding of mathematics. Statement 1 9 | Lesson A.2

Integrating and dynamically linking high quality representations of graphs, geometry, algebraic expressions, data tables, real world data and text, helps the student to have a better understanding of math and science. Statement 2 10 | Lesson A.2

It is important that students learn how to structure and write down a reasoning. The built-in interactive and dynamic math boxes can help writing down a reasoning in an efficient way. Statement 3 11 | Lesson A.2

For many students a multidisciplinary approach serves to stimulate their interest in math and science. Statement 4 12 | Lesson A.2

The ability of students and teachers to create and save their work, including text, graphs and mathematical equations, into documents for use in classroom discussions or as homework provides teachers with the opportunity to better understand students’ thought process and diagnose problem areas. Statement 5 13 | Lesson A.2

TI-Nspire Technology benefits students with different learning styles and increases comprehension by providing the ability to simultaneously see math concepts presented in multiple representations. A strong and dynamic spreadsheet, linked to all other TI-Nspire applications helps to analyze data, stored in tables. TI-Nspire Technology improves algebraic reasoning. Its algebraic functionality is interactive and dynamically linked to graphical and numeric representations. Conclusions 14 | Lesson A.2

TI-Nspire software is document based. This means you can save your work at any moment into a document that you can open on a PC, a Mac or a handheld. Teachers can prepare files to use in class, upload these files into electronic learning environments and exchange files with colleagues. Teachers can follow up the students’ progress by exchanging files. Activities and documents from leading textbook publishers specific to TI- Nspire Technology are available to help teachers integrate this technology into existing classroom practice. Conclusions 15 | Lesson A.2

Interesting quotes Hans-Georg Weigand University of Würzburg “The power and flexibility of technology can help change the focus of school mathematics completely… The student will no longer be a calculator… he/she will be an organizer of strategies and an interpreter of results…” “Connectivity between applications enhances an experimental practice of learning and teaching. It allows to invert the usual procedures and to renew old practices....” Jean-Jacques Dahan IREM Toulouse 16 | Lesson A.2

In this lesson you learned that… TI-Nspire Technology gives huge possibilities: multiple representations of the same problem will help students to understand the problem better. All the applications are dynamically linked to each other, which helps students to think in different ways. A strong and dynamic spreadsheet, linked to all other TI-Nspire applications helps to analyze data, stored in tables. TI-Nspire Technology is a strong calculation tool that saves time, so you have more chances to explore math. During science experiments the Vernier Dataquest ™ application can collect real data which can be used in other TI-Nspire applications. TI-Nspire Technology is document-based, so students and teachers have access to their files everywhere they want. 17 | Lesson A.2