Lee Trampleasure's Tips to Teaching with TI Graphing Calculators

TI Key Fonts

TI provides fonts for it's popular calculators so you can make a word processor document that includes the font characters that match what students see on their keys. When you change to the TI font (just like going from Times to Arial), each key on your computer keyboar corresponds to a specific key on the calculator. (See sample on right.)

TI-SmartViewTM

TI-Smart-ViewTMis a great classroom tool.
The program emulates a calculator onscreen for students to watch the keystrokes so they can follow along: all the keystrokes are shown on one portion of the screen, while the actual calculator is shown in another portion. In between the two are three mini-windows where you can show any screen you would show on the calculator (Lists, graph, Window, etc.). This program is not cheap (I think about $130, with no bulk discounts), but I love it. If you're introducing your students to knew and complex (at least for them) processes, it's invaluable. Click on the image on the right for a larger screen shot.

Don't buy a TI view screen if you have a computer with a projector! This program is so much better, and costs less than the view screen. You won't be dissapoointed. You can request a 30 day trial version from TI that is fully functional, but watch out, you'll get hooked (no, I don't own any stock in TI).

http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_smartview.html

If you do purchase SmartView, you'll want to get the free SmartPad application. You install this on your own calculator (84 with USB only) then you can "drive" the computer from your calculator. Much faster than trying to move the mouse over the keys on the computer screen.

Which model to buy?

Here's a great comparison between the TI 73 and 83:
http://www.fayar.net/east/teacher.web/Math/young/DwD/Workshops/ti/ti73v83p2004.pdf
From the author: "I have a comparison file. The 73 is a great 1st graphing calculator. It has many things that are developmentally appropriate for younger kids. It peters out about the middle of a full Algebra 1 course."

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© 2005-08 Lee Trampleasure
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