GeoGebra and Python for STEM and STEAM Teachers

Description

Concept by Mikko Rahikka

Educators around the World have recognized the need to increase computational thinking and mathematical tools in STEAM curriculums.

It is essential to prepare students for the demands of the 21st-century workforce, where skills such as coding, problem-solving, and critical thinking are increasingly important.

This course empowers STEAM teachers to develop essential coding and math manipulation skills with Python and GeoGebra.

GeoGebra and Python play a key role in helping students develop computational thinking and coding skills, especially in the Nordic countries. The course will introduce the basic use of GeoGebra and Python programming language in modern STEAM classrooms.

During the course, teachers will learn to plot functions, use sliders, and lists in their own GeoGebra applications and solve equations with CAS. 

They also learn to produce Python code snippets with mathematical libraries in the Google Collaboratory programming environment. They also learn to share their work in GeoGebra Materials and Google Drive. 

The skills learned in this course provide a foundation for developing computational thinking and coding skills in future STEAM education.

By the end of the course, participants will confidently integrate GeoGebra applets and Python code into their lessons. They will be able to guide their students in mastering the basics of these powerful tools.

The use of tools that promote computational thinking and coding skills, like those learned in this course, will help students develop the skills they need to succeed as 21st-century students and the workforce.

Learning outcomes

The course will help the participants to:

• Use GeoGebra in their classrooms;
• Plot functions with sliders;
• Create geometric constructions;
• Fit polynomials and other functions to data in spreadsheets;
• Use statistical tools in GeoGebra;
• Solve equations with CAS;
• Draw interactive 3D objects;
• Create simple Python code with For loops and If statements;
• Use Math, NumPy, and Matplotlib libraries to create graphs and histograms;
• Play with Turtle graphics in Python;
• Create their own learning apps and small programs enriching the classroom experience for students.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Course introduction

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools.  

What is GeoGebra? 

• GeoGebra, different apps, materials & network.

Day 2 – GeoGebra basics

• Graphing with sliders; 
• Drawing geometrical constructions; 
• Statistics and spreadsheet.

Day 3 – Deeper in GeoGebra and STEAM

• CAS and 3D; 
• Lists and sequence commands.

Day 4 – Python for beginners

• Python with Colab, the basics; 
• Functions, for loop with if statement; 
• Libraries, plotting functions, histograms, Monte Carlo method. 

Day 5 – Turtle

• Turtle graphics;
• Play, create, and solve your own problems.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.