Four of my colleagues and I went to a three day TI-Nspire training about a week ago.  The TI-Nspire is the latest handheld (notice how I didn’t call it a calculator) from Texas Instruments.  It comes in both a CAS and non-CAS version, and the great thing is that the non-CAS version also comes with a TI-84 faceplate that can be put in and the handheld will work like a TI-84.

So why am I writing here about a product like the TI-Nspire?  Well because I think that this product more than anything that has come out in the realm of technology for the mathematics classroom has the potential to change mathematics education.  The reason for this claim is ability to create and modify documents.  Remember I said that this wasn’t a calculator.  The truth is that it is more like a handheld computer.  When you turn on the Nspire you get a document that you can add pages to, including:  a calculator, lists and spreadsheets, graphs and geometry, or a notes page.  These pages can be created ahead of
time for students to work through, discover mathematics and answer questions, all in the handheld.  Check out the screenshots throughout the post.

My plan for the beginning of the year is to have pre-made activities for my students to explore, and worksheets that they can put answers on.  As soon as TI releases “Connect to Class”  a piece of software that will allow the teacher to send and receive files and keep track of answers and grades, like the TI-Navigator, I will use it to keep track of my students performance.  Connect to Class will be free to teachers, and a TI-Nspire Navigator will be available later in the year. I will also have tutorials and screen casts posted for students to use outside of class to create their own documents.

The most notable thing that is happening this year is that my colleagues and I are going to start a User Group for the TI-Nspire. We will meet once a month or so to share activities and help each other trouble shoot.  THIS IS HUGE!!!!  My colleagues in the math department have always thought of me of as the crazy technology guy, but now we are going to meet to discuss the use of technology in the classroom.  Granted we probably won’t be discussing Web 2.0 tools,  but we will be talking about formative assessment, investigation, and student achievement and how the TI-Nspire is aiding all of these.  It’s a start! I hope that maybe if this group is successful, they might jump in and start trying to integrate other technologies in their teaching.