Mathematics in the classroom and on the web

The Woodstock mathematics department has recently acquired a license for "Geometer's Sketchpad" mathematics software produced by Key Curriculum Press. The program is accessible on many levels, offering teachers and students a convenient way to create simple diagrams or a mathematically rigorous tool for advanced exploration. Geometer's Sketchpad allows mathematical content to be addressed in a visual and tactile environment that was not feasible years ago. In a geometry context, the software can explore the difference between a drawing and a construction, but it can also be used as a programming medium to illustrate dazzlingly complex concepts from calculus and beyond. Nate Burchell, a Woodstock mathematics teacher, regularly uses the software as a presentation tool. A collection of his more successful sketches can be found at: http://nateburchell.googlepages.com/index.html. You might also be interested to read Nate's blog.