GEOMETER’S SKETCHPAD

P ARENT NEWSLETTER 1
September 18, 2017
& KHAN ACADEMY
Nowadays, schools all over the world are using technological resources to help
students understand mathematical concepts. Several programs have been
created how to use certain programs throughout the school year, i.e. Geometer’s
Sketchpad and Khan Academy, in order to better understand what is being
taught in the curriculum.

All of the instructors

GEOMETER’S SKETCHPAD
teaching in our school Students will begin to familiarize themselves with Geometer’s Sketchpad. To be precise,
district will be using this Geometer’s Sketchpad is a mathematical software that helps students to understand
mathematics visually. This is a program that enables students to create and manipulate
software. Not only is the shapes and lines in order to increase their understanding on the topics taught in class.
Geometer’s Sketchpad In the picture below, for example, students will learn how to construct circles with a
easy to use, but it is also point as the center and a line segment as the radius, in addition to different types of
efficient. Technology triangles. In addition, students can create any type of shape of any size with this
used in the classroom is program! Because students have access to computers and/or laptops at school, we need
not meant to replace the to take advantage of these resources! Students will be able to use the mathematical
skills of our students; concepts learned in class, i.e. theorems and definitions, and apply these concepts into
instead, it is used to practice as they use this program.
expedite the process of
learning. Students will Geometer’s Sketchpad is a software that is accessible for students in elementary school
have more time and and secondary school. When I was a high school student, I was required to learn how
energy spent on learning to use this program for certain assignments. It is not complex, and high school students
the concepts and should be able to use technological devices. Being familiar with using technology is a
applications of these practical skill, potentially for future career skills, and we will help make this program
concepts, rather than accessible and appropriate for high school students.
wasting too much time
drawing a perfect circle
or a straight line.
Many students struggle
with understanding the
deep, conceptual
understandings of math
concepts, especially one
like geometry. However,
with this program,
students are able to
explore different
geometrical shapes and
terms independently,
with scaffolding, so that
they will be able to learn
themselves, as opposed to
memorizing formulas and
simply applying those
memorized concepts.
 2

Khan Academy also

KHAN ACADEMY
Khan Academy is a website accessible to anyone for free, providing specific
caters to students who instructional video clips for several different topics in several different subjects.
are visual learners as There is an extensive amount of math topics covered on this website, and it is
well; the instructors who available to students of all ages. Making an account does not cost money, and
record the videos on students can save their progress and videos watched so that they can be aware of
Khan Academy use a the concepts they need more practice on, and they can also study independently
screen-sharing program both in class and at home.
in order to draw
diagrams and explain In addition to the videos, there are practice sections associated with the concepts
certain mathematical from the videos which can help students realize what they actually learned from
concepts. the videos, and students can look back at the videos later if they need to relearn or
have a concept reiterated for them. This is beneficial for our students because we
Videos are also helpful want to make sure they fully understand the concepts learned on that day! They
because students can need to apply their new knowledge to practice problems, and it makes it easier for
replay a certain part the teachers because the website checks the students’ answer so that the teachers
they might have aren’t too overwhelmed running around the classroom.
misheard, as opposed to
a lecture given by a Not only is Khan Academy helpful for students, but it is also a free, accessible
resource for parents and teachers as well. Parents and teachers are able to view
teacher where students,
their students’ progress by making accounts as well. This is useful not for criticizing
especially those who are students, but encouraging them to learn even when they make mistakes and
introverted, may not be congratulating them when they make a lot of progress!
comfortable with raising
their hands and asking In order to use Khan Academy in the classroom, students will have class time every
questions during class day in order to use school-provided laptops to watch the videos on certain topics
time. and we will have worksheets with practice problems to go along with those topics.
Students will have the opportunity to learn at whichever speed makes them
Another benefit of using comfortable, and they will be able to finish the assignments at home, if need be.
Khan Academy is that
students can go at their
own paces. Students may
feel discouraged when
they do not understand
concepts as quickly as
their other classmates.
Learning at one’s own
pace is essential for
efficiency of absorbing
information.

Ms. Esther Han

Boston College
haneg@bc.edu