Embedded Files
Description:
Desmos is an advanced graphing calculator and dynamic mathematics software platform used annually by over 75 million people around the world (Desmos Inc, 2023). This tool helps people represent their ideas mathematically, connect different representations dynamically, make conjectures, and in some cases develop entirely new ideas (Edwards, 2023). It provides a powerful and user-friendly digital environment for graphing, analyzing, and visualizing mathematical concepts. Desmos is completely free and is accessible online and through mobile apps, making it a versatile tool that can help take students from a basic understanding of graphs into far more complex possibilities (Edwards, 2023). In fact, there is an annual competition that has contestants create complex and beautiful artwork outputs using math to build the images in graph form (Desmos Inc, 2023).
Implementation in the classroom:
A math teacher can use Desmos to graph quadratic equations and explore their properties with the use of a visual aid. The teacher could then assign an activity where students need to manipulate the coefficients of a quadratic equation and observe how the graph changes. They can see how the vertex, axis of symmetry, and roots are related to the equation's parameters. Teachers also have the ability to set up classes that students can join using a class code for instant access. They can then use the Desmos math curriculum which is available in English and Spanish and offers a year-long program of teaching (Edwards, 2023). There is also the ability to browse by activities and find suitable picks to use either during a class or to assign as homework. Finally, Desmos can be used for gamification in the classroom and has programs like marble-sliding game that has students transform periodic functions by trying to slide marbles through points on a graph.
How the tool enhances student learning:
A study conducted on secondary students in Sweden found that showed that students who used Desmos during lessons had a significant increase in their performance as compared with their colleagues in the control group (Chechan et al., 2023). This is because Desmos provides a visual representation of mathematical concepts, which helps students grasp abstract ideas more effectively. Students were observed actively engaging with mathematics by manipulating graphs and equations. This hands-on experience deepens their understanding and allows students to see the relationship between equations and graphs (Chechan et al., 2023). Additionally, Desmos supports collaborative problem-solving, which fosters peer learning and discussion (Chechan et al., 2023). Students can learn from each other's approaches and insights. At the conclusion of the study, the majority of the students were of the view that the use of Desmos has not only given them an understanding of the concept but has provided a different perspective of examining the behavior of different functions something that they could not do using paper and pencil (Chechan et al., 2023).
References
Chechan, B., Ampadu, E., & Pears, A. (2023). Effect of using Desmos on high school students’ understanding and learning of functions. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 19(10), em2331. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13540
Desmos. (2020). Introduction to the Desmos Graphing Calculator [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKbZ3RoA-x4
Desmos Inc. (2023). Desmos . Desmos.com. https://help.desmos.com/hc/en-us/articles/10647081675533-3rd-Annual-Desmos-Global-Math-Art-Contest
Edwards, L. (2023, July 31). What is Desmos and How Can It Be Used for Teaching? Tips & Tricks. TechLearningMagazine. https://www.techlearning.com/how-to/what-is-desmos-and-how-can-it-be-used-for-teaching-tips-and-tricks
Nguyen, H., Stehr, E., Eisenreich, H., & An, T. (2018). Using Google Forms to Inform Teaching Practices. Proceedings of the Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching and Learning Conference, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.20429/stem.2018.020110
Page updated
Report abuse