Guided InterActivities with GeoGebra

GeoGebra can interact with a web page via JavaScript. Even without the fact that GeoGebra is freeware, the possibilities offered by this capability sets GeoGebra apart and above many commercial programs. The beauty of this arrangement is that we get the graphical interactivity interface of GeoGebra together with typical browser interactivity interface of the web. Furthermore, ordinary mathematics educators such as the authors - with only a bit of web page and programming experience - are able to understand and apply this capability to develop guided interActivities that offer truly free and viable learning experiences online, via LANs and offline. 1. Introduction 1.1 interActivities vs. activities Frequently, what we get with technology in education – particularly mathematics education – are activities and not interActivities. This is particularly true with programs that use graphing calculators, but also true of many online applications and applets. Suppose we are learning to graph inequalities. With a graphing calculator, the only thing we can do is type in the inequality and hit graph. The bounding line is drawn, correctly dashed or solid and shaded. Such an activity does the work for us – unfortunately it also does the thinking. Thus, the technology has actually undone learning. Below in example 1, we will demonstrate the difference between this kind of activity and a set of GeoGebra interActivities where seeing and interacting and feedback brings about true learning and the development of logical thinking skills, which is our goal as educators….