GeoGebra Classic 6 vs GeoGebra Classic 5
Getting started with GeoGebra Classic (Version) 6 if you are using GeoGebra Classic (Version) 5
Original file created by Peter Currie, a past participant of the 'GeoGebra - Become a Proficient, Inspired Practitioner' course.
It's All About Dynamic Text
One of the most powerful features of GeoGebra is a facility that I refer to as Dynamic Text. I have no idea what it is actually referred to because I have never been able to find any reference or tutorial on this feature. Which I've always found very strange. Dynamic Text explained. If you look at the gif, above, you'll see the formulas for the Surface Area and Volume of the cone are dynamic - the numbers change as the cone is manipulated. By the way, I'm not advocating the use of gifs of GeoGebra files in the teaching mathematics! What we need are the GeoGebra files so that you, the teacher, control the manipulations. (I use gifs simply to demonstrate to math teachers what is possible with GeoGebra.) There is a whole page of gifs here - of extraordinary files created by teachers who participated in the GeoGebra-Proficiency course. |
So if you return to the gif above, you'll appreciate how powerful it is for students to see a formula 'in action'. This is the power of Dynamic Text.
And it is because of Dynamic Text that allows GeoGebra to be used across many, if not most topics of mathematics, and not just graphing and geometry - especially measurement and especially (almost) any topic that involved formulas.
And it is because of Dynamic Text that allows GeoGebra to be used across many, if not most topics of mathematics, and not just graphing and geometry - especially measurement and especially (almost) any topic that involved formulas.
What About GeoGebra Classic 6?
I'll forgive you for wondering what this has to do with GeoGebra Classic 6! Well, you may or may not know that in the course 'GeoGebra - Become a Proficient, Inspired Practitioner' I have deliberately not converted the tutorials to Classic (Version) 6. I request that participants use GeoGebra Classic 5 (or Version 5).
In late August, 2020, I had an interesting conversation with a teacher from the UK who was the first participant to created a GeoGebra Classic 6 version (in addition to a Classic 5 version) of each file during the course. (The course requires participants to replicate quality files and then create some of their own.)
I figured it was high time to revisit Classic 6 so we had a chat. My strong conclusion is that I'm definitely sticking with Classic 5 for the foreseeable future ... and with fingers and toes crossed in regards to the inevitable release of Classic/Version 7.
The number #1 area in which Classic 6 is lacking is Dynamic Text. Both Classic 5 and Classic 6 versions have their advantages and disadvantages but it is in the area of Dynamic Text that Classic 6 falls over.
Below is a 7-min video designed for Classic (Version) 5 users who might be interested in taking a look at Classic (Version) 6. The video simply shows the key differences between the two.
In late August, 2020, I had an interesting conversation with a teacher from the UK who was the first participant to created a GeoGebra Classic 6 version (in addition to a Classic 5 version) of each file during the course. (The course requires participants to replicate quality files and then create some of their own.)
I figured it was high time to revisit Classic 6 so we had a chat. My strong conclusion is that I'm definitely sticking with Classic 5 for the foreseeable future ... and with fingers and toes crossed in regards to the inevitable release of Classic/Version 7.
The number #1 area in which Classic 6 is lacking is Dynamic Text. Both Classic 5 and Classic 6 versions have their advantages and disadvantages but it is in the area of Dynamic Text that Classic 6 falls over.
Below is a 7-min video designed for Classic (Version) 5 users who might be interested in taking a look at Classic (Version) 6. The video simply shows the key differences between the two.
Over to you ...
Was this article helpful? Do you use Dynamic Text? If yes, what do you call it?
Are you a Classic 6 user and want to share some insights?
Please share in the comments below.
Are you a Classic 6 user and want to share some insights?
Please share in the comments below.