This article talks about some of the advantages of embedding technology in the classrooms for teaching and learning mathematics by using GeoGebra. The author of this article, Markus Hohenwarter, is the creator of GeoGebra. As part of his graduate studies in mathematics education and computer science at the University of Salzburg in Austria, during 2001/2002, he developed GeoGebra with the support of Austrian Academy of Sciences. From 2006 onwards, development of GeoGebra continues at the Florida Atlantic University.
GeoGebra is an open-source dynamic software that is designed for teaching and learning mathematics for all levels. It is based on the principles of a constructivist learning environment, which connect geometry, algebra, calculus, and some other areas of mathematics into an easy-to-use software environment. Since this software is free of charge, students and teachers can use it in the classrooms and at home to learn and teach calculus, for instance.
This article briefly looks at other powerful dynamic learning environments such as Geometer's Sketchpad and Cabri Geometry. These two software packages are not only proprietary, but also require considerable amount of time commitment for mastering, which renders these suitable for only higher education. And also, these packages are geared towards addressing one area of mathematics (geometry, algebra, calculus, or statistics). In contrast to these commercial packages, teachers, educators, and researchers develop GeoGebra worksheets and methods. For instance, fully functional dynamic calculus worksheets can be created on the fly in the classrooms or customize existing worksheets, created by others, for classroom use. That is, dynamic and interactive figures, functions, constructions, or objects can be manipulated by moving points, changing graphs, or manipulating parameters with sliders.
The author goes on to suggest that by providing such a dynamic teaching and learning environment, the process of students' learning becomes mathematical experiments, i.e. a student centered approach to learning mathematics.
GeoGebra is an open-source dynamic software that is designed for teaching and learning mathematics for all levels. It is based on the principles of a constructivist learning environment, which connect geometry, algebra, calculus, and some other areas of mathematics into an easy-to-use software environment. Since this software is free of charge, students and teachers can use it in the classrooms and at home to learn and teach calculus, for instance.
This article briefly looks at other powerful dynamic learning environments such as Geometer's Sketchpad and Cabri Geometry. These two software packages are not only proprietary, but also require considerable amount of time commitment for mastering, which renders these suitable for only higher education. And also, these packages are geared towards addressing one area of mathematics (geometry, algebra, calculus, or statistics). In contrast to these commercial packages, teachers, educators, and researchers develop GeoGebra worksheets and methods. For instance, fully functional dynamic calculus worksheets can be created on the fly in the classrooms or customize existing worksheets, created by others, for classroom use. That is, dynamic and interactive figures, functions, constructions, or objects can be manipulated by moving points, changing graphs, or manipulating parameters with sliders.
The author goes on to suggest that by providing such a dynamic teaching and learning environment, the process of students' learning becomes mathematical experiments, i.e. a student centered approach to learning mathematics.
Hohenwarter, M., Hohenwarter, J., Kreis, Y., & Lavicza, Z. (2008). Teaching and learning calculus with free dynamic mathematics software GeoGebra. In 11th International Congress on Mathematical Education. Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
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