Module A
Concepts and value of
TI-Nspire™ Technology
Module A
Concepts and value of
TI-Nspire™ Technology
Lesson 2: How does TI-Nspire Technology
differ from classical math and science
software?
In the previous lesson you learned that…
• TI-Nspire Technology combines all commonly used applications in math
& science classes. It runs on a handheld, a PC or a Mac.
• There a two types of TI-Nspire Technology software: TI-Nspire and TINspire CAS.
• There are three types of handhelds: the Clickpad, the Touchpad and the
CX-handhelds.
• There are three types of computer software: the Student software, the
Teacher software and TI-Navigator Teacher software.
• TI-Nspire TI-Navigator Teacher software creates a wireless network
environment, that increases the students’ engagement in class, makes it
easy to send documents and assess the students’ progress.
• If you don't have TI-Nspire computer software, you'll need to download
TI-Nspire Computer Link Software in order to connect the handheld to
the PC and make screen captures or update the OS.
3 | Lesson A.2
In the previous lesson you learned that…
• Several sensors can be connected to the handheld or the computer, to
collect data during science experiments.
• The TI-Nspire Lab Cradle is available to do multi-sensors or fast rate
sampling.
• The built-in Press-To-Test mode temporarily blocks access to all personal
data and .tns documents and certain features that can be not allowed
during testing.
• You can create a PublishView document where you can integrate different
TI-Nspire applications, rich text and hyperlinks, images and videos on one
page.
• TI-Nspire Technology supports Lua scripting, which is especially interesting
for the creation of science simulations on the TI-Nspire platform.
4 | Lesson A.2
TI-Nspire™ Technology
In this lesson you will:
• Get an overview of the concepts and the value of TI-Nspire Technology for
math and science education.
• Learn how TI-Nspire Technology differs from classical math & science
software.
• See examples of how TI-Nspire Technology can lead to a better
understanding of math & science.
5 | Lesson A.2
Graphing calculators
Before graphing was introduced to calculators, calculators served mainly as a
means to reduce time spent on repetitive calculation and thus increase time
spent on higher mathematics. The introduction of the graphing calculator
twenty years ago transformed mathematics classrooms because the speed
and accuracy of graphs that are generated provided opportunities for
increased conceptual understanding.
TI-82 Stats
6 | Lesson A.2
TI-84 Plus
TI-Nspire Technology
• TI-Nspire not only enhances graphing, but also
• links algebra to geometry,
• integrates dynamic geometry with graphing,
• adds additional representations of math concepts,
• increases interactivity via grab-and-move of function graphs,
• provides documents to deepen student work and support more
classroom collaboration and formative assessment.
7 | Lesson A.2
TI-Nspire Technology
• The TI-Nspire platform includes a
handheld device which builds upon
features present in previous graphics
calculators and adds significant new
capabilities. Research has consistently
shown that multiple representations
increase students’ conceptual
understanding of mathematics.
• TI-Nspire Technology builds on this
principle by integrating and linking high
quality representations of graphs,
geometry, algebraic expressions, data
tables and text.
8 | Lesson A.2
Statement 1
• Multiple representations increase learners’ conceptual understanding of
mathematics.
9 | Lesson A.2
Statement 2
• Integrating and dynamically linking high quality representations of graphs,
geometry, algebraic expressions, data tables, real world data and text, helps
the student to have a better understanding of math and science.
10 | Lesson A.2
Statement 3
• It is important that students learn
how to structure and write down
a reasoning. The built-in
interactive and dynamic math
boxes can help writing down a
reasoning in an efficient way.
11 | Lesson A.2
Statement 4
• For many students a multidisciplinary approach serves to stimulate their
interest in math and science.
12 | Lesson A.2
Statement 5
• The ability of students and teachers to create and save their work, including
text, graphs and mathematical equations, into documents for use in
classroom discussions or as homework provides teachers with the
opportunity to better understand students’ thought process and diagnose
problem areas.
13 | Lesson A.2
Conclusions
• TI-Nspire Technology benefits students with different learning styles
and increases comprehension by providing the ability to simultaneously
see math concepts presented in multiple representations.
• A strong and dynamic spreadsheet, linked to all other TI-Nspire
applications helps to analyze data, stored in tables.
• TI-Nspire Technology improves algebraic reasoning. Its algebraic
functionality is interactive and dynamically linked to graphical and
numeric representations.
14 | Lesson A.2
Conclusions
• TI-Nspire software is document based.
• This means you can save your work at any moment into a document that
you can open on a PC, a Mac or a handheld.
• Teachers can prepare files to use in class, upload these files into electronic
learning environments and exchange files with colleagues.
• Teachers can follow up the students’ progress by exchanging files.
• Activities and documents from leading textbook publishers specific to TINspire Technology are available to help teachers integrate this technology
into existing classroom practice.
15 | Lesson A.2
Interesting quotes
Hans-Georg Weigand
University of Würzburg
“The power and flexibility of technology can help change the focus of
school mathematics completely… The student will no longer be a
calculator… he/she will be an organizer of strategies and an interpreter of
results…”
Jean-Jacques Dahan
IREM Toulouse
“Connectivity between applications enhances an experimental practice of
learning and teaching.
It allows to invert the usual procedures and to renew old practices. ...”
16 | Lesson A.2
In this lesson you learned that…
• TI-Nspire Technology gives huge possibilities: multiple representations of
the same problem will help students to understand the problem better.
• All the applications are dynamically linked to each other, which helps
students to think in different ways.
• A strong and dynamic spreadsheet, linked to all other TI-Nspire
applications helps to analyze data, stored in tables.
• TI-Nspire Technology is a strong calculation tool that saves time, so you
have more chances to explore math.
• During science experiments the Vernier Dataquest™ application can
collect real data which can be used in other TI-Nspire applications.
• TI-Nspire Technology is document-based, so students and teachers have
access to their files everywhere they want.
17 | Lesson A.2