TI-Nspire Script application files = LUA activities

For more information to get started with TI-Nspire Script App, check out TI's site or http://www.inspired-lua.org/ or the goodies on Compass Learning. Again, excellent tutorials to learn Lua can be found on Steve Arnold's site:  http://compasstech.com.au/TNS_Authoring/online_classroom.html. 

Here is a nice picture of 3 of the guys who have contributed greatly to the Lua files on this site - Andy (UK), Nevil (Scotland), and Fred (US).

NEW: Marc and Andy shared their T3 International Conference presentations from Chicago at  http://www.piman.ca/Nspire/PimanNspire/Blog/Entries/2012/3/7_T3_~_Chicago_Workshop.html  and http://kemp.co/T3Chicago

TIPS for making great pages with Script applications

• • For “videos” or animations, use buttons or icons that look like what the teacher/student has formerly seen on the TI-Nspire. This is demonstrated with Mr. Wizard and Mitosis.tns (Now available on Science Nspired see page 3.2)

  •  Have options available when the student or teacher presses the menu button. 

* This could include Hints and About, so the student will know what to do on the page and the author can get credit even if the Script application is copied to a new document.

*  Another benefit of following this tip is if there is a something in the menu, then it will not say “Insert an application to enable this view” in the Documents Toolbox Tools.

*  Examples of this include Probability Spinner and Times Table Tester (practice your multiplication)

• • Use shortcut keys so the student with a handheld is not required to use the Touchpad as a mouse. It also makes it more fun to use with your computer keyboard on the TI-Nspire software.

*  For example, besides clicking the icons on the Stopwatch.tns, enter will start and stop the stopwatch, + adds time to the split memory, ctrl delete (clear) resets the stopwatch.

*  On the Probability Spinner, the menu options inform the student of the shortcuts, like R for reset, F for fast.

* The Riemann Script App uses + and - to add or take away rectangles, I or O to zoom in or out, and L R M T for left, right, midpoint, trapezoid.

• • The first priority is to make sure the script looks good on the handheld.

* Optimizing for Computer mode Document View is difficult because it depends on the size of the computer screen and the ‘boldness.’

*  If it looks good in the TI-Nspire Document Player, that would suffice for “looking good” in the computer view.