Graphing calculators provide new and powerful ways to investigate and explore a wide variety of mathematical concepts.
These TI EXPLORATIONSTM activities are intended as a sample of calculus learning activities written by experienced calculus teachers. These activities emphasize first and foremost the learning of calculus, supported by the appropriate and intelligent use of a handheld graphing calculator. While the activities were written with a TI-84 Plus / TI-83 Plus in mind, they are not intended as a user's guide for the machine. Rather, the focus of the activities is on the mathematics behind important calculus concepts and how almost any graphing calculator could be used to amplify and illustrate the meanings of those concepts.
Different authors wrote individual activities so you will find a range of writing styles and instructional strategies. Some of the activities have assessment questions woven throughout while others include sets of questions or practice problems following the instructional development of an idea or topic. What all of the activities have in common is an emphasis on key concepts representative of first year calculus, including topics emphasized in both the College Board's Advanced Placement AB and BC course descriptions. All of the activities are designed so that students can work independently or in groups and would be suitable for either homework or in-class work.
Read through each activity and select at least two that are of interest to you. Work through the activities yourself or if possible work through them with a class.
Activity Index:
28.1 - Activity 1 - Graphical Consequences of Continuity
28.2 - Activity 2 - Graphs of Functions and their Derivatives
28.3 - Activity 3 - Move My Way - A CBR Analysis of Rates of Change
28.4 - Activity 4 - Introduction to Slope Fields
28.5 - Activity 5 - Exploring Infinite Series
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