ISTE standards for students require that “Students develop and employ strategies for understanding and solving problems in ways that leverage the power of technological methods to develop and test solutions.” This is under their Computational Thinking standard and requires “students to formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions; collect data or identify relevant data sets, use digital tools to analyze them, and represent data in various ways to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making; Break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.”
If we as educators want to provide opportunities for students to be able to reach these standards, we must provide the type of environment and the tools necessary to accomplish this. Until recently, it has been extremely difficult and cumbersome but those days are over!
The folks at TextHelp have created a fantastic tool to enable students to many of the things listed above. According to Text Help, EquatIO® was “made to help mathematics and STEM teachers and students at all levels, EquatIO® lets everyone create mathematical equations, formulas, Desmos graphs, and more on their computer or Chromebook.” With multiple methods of input and smart predictive technology creating equations is now something anyone can do.
The video below introduces EquatIO®.
What makes EquatIO® even better is that it easily integrates with Google Suite for Education. Now adding math equations to a Google Doc is super easy! Want to integrate this ability with other Google tools? Text Help offers a premium subscription that enables you to do just that!
EquatIO® is cross-platform so it is available on all major computer systems including Chromebooks! This makes it a great tool to use in a Bring Your Own Device school.
According to the folks at Text Help, some of the benefits of EquatIO® include:
- Making digital math simpler for students and teachers – more than just a replacement for pen and paper problem solving
- Allowing fast, intuitive creation of math formulas and other expressions for insertion into G Suite for Education Apps and Microsoft Word
- Instantly understanding what you’re typing or handwriting, turning expressions into clear, accurate on-screen formulas
- Saving time and effort – no tricky mathematical description languages or coding to learn
- Supports enriched learning collaboration in math and STEM subjects
Visit the Text Help website today!
This is just another tool in the ever-growing toolbox that make Chromebooks a fantastic tool for learning! Remember Chrome Can!
Thanks for reading
Dr. Shannon H. Doak