For this assignment, I choose to write about ASSIGNMENT #5. The creation of a personal library of GSP scripts as tools for doing constructions you might use several times is an efficient way to organize and store your work. I wish I had completed my library before I began assignment four. I felt like I could have begun my library while working on assignment four.

 

Not having a strong geometry background, I felt like I had to do a lot of research to complete my library. After completing the research, I could try constructing the items on GSP. Not only did I learn a lot about GSP, but I also learned about the TI - 92 at the same time. This assignment also taught me some new geometry terms that I have never heard, like "Nine Point Circle", "Pedal Triangle", and "The Golden Ratio" to name a few. Creating the personal library taught me how to use some simple algorithms to create more complex constructions.

 

This assignment was one of the few that I felt happy with when I completed it. After completing each script, you knew whether you had the correct construction or not. If you did not have the proper construction, then I knew to start over and utilize some other resources. Towards the end of the suggested list, I spent a lot of time thinking about the mathematics behind the construction, instead of looking up definitions to geometry terms.

 

Creating the GSP scripts was a personal challenge to me. I felt like I was behind my other peers in the class (with my geometry skills). So, I tried harder than most to understand the true mathematics behind the exercise. After completing scripts, I tried to construct the item using a different algorithm. Some of the scripts, I could not find any different methods to construct the items. Even after I completed the construction, I enjoyed making the drawing more visually appealing (Like adding color, thick or dashed lines, and hiding unnecessary items). Creating the scripts also forced me to learn several constructions I did not know how to do. Since I am teaching Geometry this year, I have found this very helpful already in the classroom. The school recently bought TI-92 calculators and GSP is very similar to the calculators program. After completing this assignment, I spent several days with my students constructing different items on the calculator. Not only did the students enjoy utilizing these calculators, but I had several students said they understood some basic constructions/terms more.

 

Before this assignment, I was struggling with some geometry terms and constructions. I was tired of using that compass and ruler. So, GSP helped regain my interest in geometry and play around with several different scripts to see what kinds of items I could come up with. I found myself playing around with animations, measurements and color. I especially became interested in different ratios of various constructions. (like the ratio between the length of a triangle side and a median.