CAS Activities for Grade 9 and 10 Dwight Stead Dufferin-Peel CDSB OAME Conference Friday, May 15, 2009

Agenda Minds On: Introduction & Anticipation Guide CAS in the Curriculum “White Box” vs “Black Box” Action: Hands-on CAS Activities Consolidation: CAS Implementation Strategy for Dufferin- Peel CDSB

Minds On…

What is CAS? According to wikipedia.com: A computer algebra system (CAS) is a software program that facilitates symbolic mathematics. The core functionality of a CAS is manipulation of mathematical expressions in symbolic form.

CAS Overview Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) have been used in Mathematics since the 1970s Originally used in post secondary to ease the tedium of complex algebra The revised Grades 9 and 10 Mathematics curriculum in 2005 featured CAS as a tool to help students develop algebraic reasoning

Think/Pair/Share What concepts in the grade 9 & 10 curriculum mention the use of CAS? Think Turn to the person next to you and share Share with the whole group

Where’s CAS in Grades 9 & 10 Grade 9 Applied (MFM1P) NA: 3 expectations Grade 9 Academic (MPM1D) NA: 3 expectations Grade 10 Applied (MFM2P) QR: 3 expectations MLR: 1 expectation Grade 10 Academic (MPM2D) QR: 2 expectations

Nspire CAS and TIPS4RM In the summer of 2008 the TIPS4RM resources for MFM2P were completed Nspire CAS is used extensively in units 3 Equations of Lines 4 Systems of Equations These resources can be downloaded from the OAME web site:

Black Box vs White Box CAS was originally used a tool to perform algebra (Black Box) CAS can also be used as a pedagogical tool to examine patterns, form and confirm conjectures and discuss findings (White Box) If students only use CAS as a black box, they never develop functional or conceptual skills in algebra See March 2007 OAME Gazette for more information

Action …

It’s Your Turn… Turn on the Handheld and press c Choose 7. My Documents Scroll down to the folder called Transfers-7- 1x-09 and press · Scroll to the file CAS in 9&10 and press · If you are asked to Save the Current File choose No and press · The title screen should appear

Nspire CAS Handheld Keys The blue Ctrl button is used to control features The NavButton is used to grasp objects Shortcuts: Ctrl » advance a page Ctrl « returns to previous page The NavPad is used to move the cursor

Transferring a File from one Handheld to Another Applications can be downloaded and transferred to a handheld using Nspire Computer Link To transfer a file from handheld to handheld you: 1.Connect the 2 devices using the small cable (The end with the white dot goes on sending unit) 2.Turn on both units 3.On the Sending unit, choose 7: My Documents from the Home screen 4.Cursor to the desired file on the sending unit 5.Press / then c and choose 1: File then 5: Send 6.Follow the on-screen instructions

Consolidation/ Debrief …

Implementation of Nspire CAS in Dufferin-Peel CDSB The initiative took two years to implement : 11 of 23 secondary schools were selected : the remaining 12 secondary schools were selected Each school received 30 Nspire CAS handhelds, 1 Viewscreen 1 licence of Nspire CAS Teacher Edition software 1 Connect to Class kit 1 CBR 2

Implementation of Nspire CAS in Dufferin-Peel CDSB (Continued) Two teachers per school were selected and each teacher received a personal handheld Each pair of teachers were to create a CAS activity for grade 9 or 10 Teachers received three days of training: One session to introduce the device and CAS One session on the Nspire software and Computer Link software One session to share the activities created Completed activities shared with system on a wiki Click on the Nspire CAS Rollout link on the left

For more information, please contact me: Dwight Stead – Mathematical Literacy Consultant (7-12) Phone: x