Using a Wireless Using a Wireless Calculator Network to Calculator Network to Teach MathematicsTeach Mathematics

Lisa M Suarez-Caraballo and Bill StiggersLisa M Suarez-Caraballo and Bill Stiggers

LisaS@copper.netLisaS@copper.net Bill@apk.netBill@apk.net

Lisa M Suarez-Caraballo

LisaS@copper.net

Bill StiggersBill@apk.net

Cleveland, Ohio

Using a Wireless Calculator Network to Teach Middle School

Mathematics

NCTM82nd Annual Meeting

April 21-24, 2004

.

Mathematics with

Calculators

The More

Things Change:

"Students today can't prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend upon their slates,

which are more expensive. What will they do when their slate is dropped and it breaks? They will be

unable to write!"

Teachers Conference, 1703

"Students today depend upon paper too much. They don't know how to write on slate without chalk dust all over themselves. They can't clean a slate properly. What will they

do when they run out of paper?

Principal's Association, 1815

"Students today depend too much on ink. They don't know how to use a pen knife to sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never

replace the pencil."National Association

of Teachers, 1907

"Students today depend too much upon store bought ink. They don't know how to make

their own. When they run out of ink, they will be unable to write words or ciphers until

their next trip to the settlement. This is a sad commentary on modern education.”

The Rural American Teacher, 1929

"Students today depend upon these expensive fountain pens. They can no

longer write with a straight pen and nib (not to mention sharpening their own quills). We

parents must not allow them to wallow in such luxury to the detriment of learning how to cope in the real business world, which is

not so extravagant.”

PTA Grazette, 1941

"Ball point pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use

these devices and throw them away. The American virtues of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Business and banks will

never allow such expensive luxuries.”

Federal Teacher, 1950

"Students today depend too much on

hand held calculators."

Anonymous, 1985

Can you Predict what tomorrow'sargument will be?

From Washington Mathematics 34(l), Fall, 1989, p.8 Tom Seidenberg

Eisenhower High School, Yakima, WA

AgendaAgenda

Introduction to the Navigator and the Introduction to the Navigator and the Graphing CalculatorGraphing Calculator

Introduction to Learning Check APP and Introduction to Learning Check APP and taking an assessmenttaking an assessment

Creating a quiz with Learn Check CreatorCreating a quiz with Learn Check Creator Analysis of quizAnalysis of quiz

TI-Navigator™ is a wireless classroom TI-Navigator™ is a wireless classroom network that enhances communication network that enhances communication between the teacher’s classroom between the teacher’s classroom computer and the TI graphing computer and the TI graphing handhelds used by students.handhelds used by students.

TI-Navigator ™TI-Navigator ™

TI-NavigatorTI-Navigator

Components available for free:Components available for free: Learning Check AppLearning Check App Learning Check CreatorLearning Check Creator

Included in Navigator PurchaseIncluded in Navigator Purchase Class ConnectClass Connect Class AnalysisClass Analysis

Learning CheckLearning Check

Make your own electronic Make your own electronic assessments students can take on assessments students can take on their handheldstheir handhelds

Connect your students’ handhelds to Connect your students’ handhelds to your computer with a graph link your computer with a graph link cable cable

TI-83 plus Graphing TI-83 plus Graphing CalculatorCalculator

““Soft Keys” Soft Keys” To go to the MENU from this To go to the MENU from this

screen you would press screen you would press

Important Keys to know:

TI-83 plus Graphing TI-83 plus Graphing CalculatorCalculator

ArrowsArrows

Alpha keysAlpha keys

Important Keys to know:

AA

ZZ SpaceSpace

Learning CheckLearning Check

Select the LearnChk APP from the Select the LearnChk APP from the APPS listAPPS list

After logging in select the assessment:After logging in select the assessment:

Absolute Value and Operations w/ IntegersAbsolute Value and Operations w/ Integers

and press to go to the next question

TAB allows you to move up and down along the answer choices

“soft keys” take you through the assessment.From this screen press to see the menu

Navigating Through the Navigating Through the AssessmentAssessment

Learning Check CreatorLearning Check Creator

The left hand window lists the questions you have created

Learning Check CreatorLearning Check CreatorThe middle window shows you each individual question you have created

Learning Check CreatorLearning Check Creator The right hand window lets you select the type of question you

would like to createHere you can add directions or an image

to your assessment– information your students may need to answer several

questions Select “Standard Choices” to create

true or false type questions

“Custom Choices” allows you to add multiple choice answers to a question

that you input

“Fill in the Blank” and “Open Response” allow you to add these types

of questions. Only “fill in the Blank” type questions can be scored

automatically

Allows you to wirelessly “collect” the Allows you to wirelessly “collect” the assessment from the student’s assessment from the student’s handheldshandhelds

Instantly assesses the quizInstantly assesses the quiz Allows for anonymous Allows for anonymous feedback andfeedback and

discussiondiscussion

Class AnalysisClass Analysis

Thank You!!Thank You!!