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The Web Site of
Jeanne Wilson |
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TI-INTERACTIVE! TM Integrated computer software for math and
science education.ti.com Grade levels: high school and college Mathematics and Science Reviewed by Jeanne Wilson Software
Description TI-Interactive is
interactive computer software which enables high school students to learn
mathematical and scientific concepts through investigation. The student becomes an active learner
through lessons of exploration, graphic visualization, data analysis, and
writing. TI-Interactive enhances the
use of problem solving skills using real world data. The features of the
software are a word processor with an integrated
math system. Students can create documents
that include formatted text, mathematics notations and graphic displays. The student can easily include, in the text
of his or her document, data which can be extracted from internet sites
directly into his or her lists, as well as graphic representations of the
data. The student can incorporate the
analysis of the data directly into the document. TI-Interactive
contains graphing calculator functionality. The graphing calculator keystrokes are
represented in a toolbar format across the top of the document page. The software includes the functions of the
TI-84 graphing calculator. Students
can perform function, parametric, or polar graphing. Students may use the ZOOM and TRACE
features of the graphing calculator and perform interactive calculations. The software includes a function
table. The drop-down menus
on the toolbar across the top of the document page, the software contain
math, angle and text operations. They
contain other icons for a matrix editor and matrix operations, list editor and
list operations, statistical regressions, probability distributions, and
statistical tests and intervals. TI-Interactive
incorporates the Computer Algebra System functionality of
the TI-92 graphing calculator.
In the menus of the toolbar the student can choose to solve an
equation for a specified variable, factor expressions and numbers,
algebraically expand an expression, find the zeros (solutions) of an
equation, calculate a common denominator for all terms of an expression,
expand and solve trigonometric equations, compute complex results for solve,
factor and zeros, and obtain derivatives, indefinite integrals, and numerical
integrals for calculus problems. TI-Interactive
includes an internal Web browser so students can access
and extract math and science data from resources. The student can easily extract the data
directly to the data editor (lists) and save their URL addresses within his
or her TI-Interactive document for easy reference, and have the ability later
to click on the hypertext link within his or her document to view data on the
browser. The TI-Interactive
software includes a Data Editor with a Spreadsheet, a
list editor and a matrix editor. A
student can download data from the Internet, a calculator or a data
collection device like a CBR (Calculator Based Ranger) to investigate
statistical plots. The TI-Interactive
connects to most TI-Interactive
comes with a teacher’s guide with sample activities in all high school
mathematical areas including algebra, geometry, statistics, linear
regression, quadratic equations, systems of equations, projectile motion,
matrix algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. TI-Interactive was originally
available as a product in 2000 and has the capability for updates, as do all
the Technical
Quality TI-Interactive is
licensed software for a school system or for a computer lab. The software is easily installed from a CD
and requires a registration number that is assigned for the particular
school. In addition, there is a thirty
day trial CD for teachers. Students easily
transition to using the software because they are already familiar with the
functions and keystrokes of the graphing calculator. The icons on the toolbar easily display the
same functions as the menus on the graphing calculator. One advantage of TI-Interactive is the
visual representation of the graph in color, as compared to the colorless
viewing screen of the graphing calculator. The use of color accentuates the
differences when students are representing multiple graphs on one coordinate
plane. Students can also differentiate
the style (thickness) of their graphs and can animate the lines and curves of
their graphs. The software also
includes features for students to label all components of
the graph. Color makes the graph
aesthetically pleasing and easier to analyze. An idiosyncrasy of this
software is that students need to be conscious of saving their active graph
to the document instead of “closing” the graph. If a student closes the graph using the red
“x” in the top right hand corner of the active graph, they will have large
gray boxes left on their document.
These boxes are active graphs that have not be saved or deleted
properly. Also, the software
requires a particular “mathematical” order with which the procedures must be
performed and added to their document.
In order to graph data or lines, lists of data and the regressions
must be located above or to the right of the graph. Often students will make their selections
in a different order and not understand why there is nothing displayed on the
graph. These idiosyncrasies are easily
remedied as long as the teacher is familiar enough with them to trouble
shoot. Use of
Technology TI-Interactive
exhibits good use of technology in that it gives teachers and students the ability
to access and graph real data through the Internet easily and quickly. This software allows them to
investigate data representing various
levels of high school mathematics, from Algebra 1 through
Calculus. Students see the relevance
of algebra, for example, by determining the algebraic function that best
represents the set of data. Students
learn to think and problem-solve with visual representations from real world
data. In exploratory lessons students
can not only make conjectures, but also test and revise with ease. The graphic on the computer are engaging. Role of
Students The student is
engaged as an active learner when using this software program. The software provides options for
exploratory lessons and data collecting activities. With specific instructions, students can
easily manipulate the menus and immediately witness the effects of change on
a set of data both graphically and in a table. Students can calculate regressions and
write responses to their investigations directly on the document that
contains their data and graphics. The
graphic representation of mathematics enhances the understanding for visual
learners. TI-Interactive can
be used by students of all abilities.
Often, it is an especially effective tool for those students who find
high school mathematics challenging, because it differentiates learning and
engages the student with visual representations of the math. Students can print a finished product from
the computer that contains their lists of data, their graph, and their
regressions, along with a typed analysis based on their conclusions. Role of
Teacher The teacher’s role
would be that of a coach which follows the current ideology as stated in NCTM
standards, the The Classroom
Usage In order to use the
TI-Interactive software most efficiently, the teacher and students need
access to a computer lab. Students
have the opportunity to work individually, or in pairs at single computers,
to perform various investigations, activities or data collecting
experiments. Students are also able to
print a document that could be used as an assessment. However, if a
teacher had use of a projector, TI-Interactive would be excellent for whole
class instruction and could generate valuable whole class discourse. One computer in a traditional classroom
would still be beneficial, as students could witness the instant changes in
functions with different data, although they would not be performing the
interactive investigations themselves. Critical
Summary TI-Interactive is
an extremely effective tool for creating lesson where students are active
learners. The students perform
investigations or directed tasks which enhance their learning. The software is easy to use, especially
after the students learn the steps they need to follow to perform the various
mathematical operations. Its
relationship to the graphing calculator makes for an easy transition to this
software. TI-Interactive is
engaging, visually appealing and students often request for more
opportunities to go to the computer lab.
Most importantly TI-Interactive is usable for students of all learning
abilities. The visual representations
significantly aid in the understanding of challenging algebraic concepts and
enables students to master concepts in all levels of high school mathematics. TI-Interactive enhances the curriculum and
students further develop their problem solving skills. Overall
Rating: 8 on a scale of 10 Explanation
of Rating TI-Interactive
enhances student learning by supporting their algebraic reasoning
graphically. It empowers students, as
active learners, to master the concepts of a high school mathematics
curriculum, and to develop a higher order of thinking when problem
solving. The use of TI-Interactive
allows student to apply algebraic models to real world data. TI-Interactive
provides teachers with sufficient activities included in the software package
and provides additional resources on line from the The drawbacks of
the software are few and are quick to remedy once a teacher becomes familiar
with the software. I have found
TI-Interactive to be a highly successful teaching tool that elevates student
understanding of difficult mathematical concepts. Lesson plans and
data sites designed for TI-Interactive can be found at http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_ti_interactive.html. Additional |
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©JWilson | Last revised April 25, 2007| jwilson@hamden.org |
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