So I took this course from SMART Technologies called Math Tools. When I talked to someone about it they gave me a false answer. They said, oh, you can make graphs easily and that is about it. Boy were they wrong. Yes it is true that it is easy to make graphs from points. I can see it being very useful for younger grades, but not so good for me. If this is it, it is not worth the money.

FORTUNATELY, it was not it! The first thing that got me was that it reviewed some tools that come pre-installed with Notebook. I was able to have students create very nice and accurate diagrams of double slit diffraction. This topic requires precise geometry which had always previously eleuded me. I had to resort to using a digital pic. But there is something special about making it the diagram infront of them. It slows me down and allows students time to process. It allows students a chance to watch it develop. Small but important nuances.

Then the course started talking about how I can put two equations of lines on a graph. It was so perfect for showing collision questions in kinematics for physics. We call them “When Harry Met Sally”.

Then what is magical, is when I finish a long question of math that took most of the period and it ends in a quadratic euqation. The students are frustrated and then being to work out the equation on their paper. It takes them a couple minutes. But magically, I was able to use Math tools to “cheat” and solve it with the SMARTBOArd. A student exclaims, “it IS a SMART Board”!

Very useful course and tool.