EDUC4105

Reflection, week 14

Dynamic geometry software programs offer outstanding simplicity and wonderful results. While the graphics calculators are potable and available for any classroom, dynamic geometry offers superior function and results. I think it is a very useful scaffold for curve sketching and advanced and difficult curves. GBeing able to drag curves and watch the variables change seems invaluable in explaining relationships and the roles of different coefficients.

However, I think the intuition gained in hand drawing basic geometrical proofs such as dividing intervals into half etc are more possibly satisfying as a physical action, and hopefully will have physical (building, woodworking) applications.

Microsoft Excel is a program I have never enjoyed using. The bars nearly always need resizing, it is easy  to confuse word and number data, and the lack of “what you see is what you get” makes publishing the graphs and info a little bit of guesswork. I don’t have much experience with it, and can certainly see the benefits of its many functions, certainly its advanced numerical functions seem useful in trying to make sense of large amounts of data, and this cannot be ignored as a useful teaching tool.