Megan Spitler

Megan Spitler, math teacher at Williams Field High School, had her geometry students do a fun, engaging scavenger hunt using Geogebra. Students used their laptops to engage with the Geogebra open source software, which is a dynamic mathematics application used for geometry, algebra, graphing, statistics, spreadsheets, and calculus.

During a Geogebra scavenger hunt, students are given a set of tasks or challenges to complete using the Geogebra software. These tasks typically involve exploring geometric concepts, solving mathematical problems, or conducting virtual experiments. For example, students may be asked to construct specific geometric shapes, explore transformations such as translations or rotations, or investigate mathematical relationships through dynamic visualizations.

For Megan's activity, students logged in to this geometry section of Geogebra. The students were then asked to use their understanding of the math vocabulary and use the tools in Geogebra to construct what was described in each box (shown below). They then used the Snipping Tool to screenshot each one and added it to their Microsoft 365 Cloud Assignment in Canvas. 

A sample of a student's submission (but not yet graded for accuracy) assignment is shown below.

The use of technology in Megan's assignment enhanced the lesson in several ways:

• Interactive Learning: Students actively engaged with the mathematical concepts by manipulating objects and observing real-time changes on the screen. This hands-on approach promotes deeper understanding and retention of the material.

• Visual Representation: Geogebra provides dynamic visualizations that help students visualize abstract mathematical concepts. 

• Collaborative Learning: Students collaborated with their peers during the scavenger hunt, sharing ideas, problem-solving strategies, and insights. This fosters a collaborative learning environment where students learn from each other's perspectives and experiences.

• Immediate Feedback: The software provided immediate feedback on students' actions, allowing them to quickly identify and correct errors. This instant feedback loop promotes active learning and encourages students to experiment and explore without fear of failure.

• Personalized Learning: The scavenger hunt tasks can be adaped to align with students' individual learning needs and interests. Teachers can also monitor students' progress in real-time and provide targeted support or intervention as needed.

When students were done, they were able to use the skills they learned to create a picture of a character or scene that used at least 50 objects in Geogebra. 

Overall, the Geogebra Scavenger Hunt combined the benefits of hands-on exploration, visual representation, collaboration, and technology to create a dynamic and engaging learning experience for Megan's students. By leveraging technology effectively, teachers can enhance their lessons and empower students to become active participants in their learning. If you'd like to try this with your students, you can create your own Geogebra account here.