Desmos is an online graphical calculator. In plain English, this means you can play with points, lines, and curves to better understand how they are formed. Desmos was chosen from the many mathematical tools because it is easy to use and can cover a wide range of the curriculum if used creatively. It is free (for now), web-based (universal), has an easy to use interface and can be used to make activities in a similar way to Kahoot and Socrative. Students already have graphing calculators, but Desmos is better because it does all of the same functions in a more intuitive manner, allowing students to focus on understanding.

The benefits of graphical calculators

 

Most problems can be modelled with some algebra, and this is where graphing tools excel to help students understand the question. Ironically, as a dynamic geometry app, Desmos is poor at geometry because it doesn’t yet support shapes and constraints. 

Creating the virtual laboratory

One of the common problems with mathematics is that students spend almost all of their time working on written questions and rarely get the chance to work on physical problems. Science has the laboratory, the humanities has communication, students create in the arts, and exercise in health and PE, but they don’t have a laboratory in mathematics. Dynamic tools may be one part of the solution to this problem, as it creates a ‘virtual laboratory’ in the maths classroom.

in mathematics. (Olive, 2000; Zengin & Tatar, 2015)

Enhanced usability promotes interaction and self-discovery

Graphical calculators are almost powerful enough to make dynamic applications possible. The current batch do work in this way, but are slow enough to make is frustrating for the student as they cannot smoothly move the plots. Desmos’ has a negligible lag time on most computers, whereas the latest Ti-NSpire graphics calculator has a lag time of about one second. For each movement

Students can quickly test theories by constructing them. It’s exciting when you can immediately test your ideas. 

Help students develop understanding of core concepts (Institute for Advanced Study, 2016)

to take an active role in their own learning Quesada & Cooper (2010)

Intuitive – 

 | Better visualisations |  
 | Sliders |  
 | Negligible lag time |  
 |   |  

 

Empowering

 

Pitfalls

Must be using a device and there is the opportunity here to lose focus 

Other Recommendations

Geogebra is another recommended application if you have the time to build the skills with your students. This would be a good choice for senior mathematics, especially in more advanced classes.

Official YouTube page on Desmos: https://www.youtube.com/user/desmosinc