Research Members

Joy D'Andrea,Ph.D. - Instructor/Unit Chair of Mathematics & Statistics at USFSM [jd]

Adela Ramos USF Undergraduate [ar]

Popular Geometry Software for K-12
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Geometria Review by Adela Ramos (USF Undergrad student)

Geometria is a free interactive geometric software which can be used to create new problems and solutions and to answer existing problems. It counts with a short tutorial of the basic steps and a user’s guide on how to use Geometria. A good aspect is that Geometria is available in seven languages. Geometria has a playback option in which the alterations on the figure can be seen step by step. But the software is missing a further explanation of both, concepts and solutions, two important aspects from a student point of view. The 3D figures in the software are very easy to manipulate and visualize. The figures can be rotated, colored, sheared, cut and joined with another figure. Geometria contains a toolbar that allows measuring angles, distance, area, and volume. However, the solutions are given in variables not in numbers, which is not very helpful if someone wants help solving their homework problems. The easiest way to access to the software is through the Browser label on the webpage. If it is downloaded the software downloads into a WinRAR, making it difficult to access it. Overall, Geometria is an economic solution for a professor to create his or her own problems and assign it to students because it has no cost.

Math Software for K-12 (MATH IXL) Review by Adela Ramos (USF Undergrad student)

Math IXL is a fun and interactive software that covers algebra to geometry topics. The websites topics are divided by level, from pre-K to 12th grade. It isn’t free, it is allowed to answer around twenty questions to get an idea of how the software works, but after the limit is reached only members can use it. Math IXL has two purchase options, to become a member as a parent or as a teacher. For parents the cost is $9.95 a month and $79 a year. For a teacher it depends on the amount of students in the class. The lowest rate for thirty students is $199 a year and the most expensive for ninety students is $597 per year. Teachers can also use a 30 day free trial before buying it. Once it is purchased students can practice different questions styles such as word problems, graphing, multiple choice, and fill in the box. This software also provides positive feedbacks and awards when questions are answered correctly. This is helpful because the kids will want to improve to win more medals or to complete an assignment in a shorter time. Another feature is that teachers can access their student’s performance report and send it to their parents. Overall Math IXL is well organized and easy to follow. It has a vast amount of problems ranging from algebra to geometry. Nevertheless, its biggest disadvantage is that it has a cost.

Math Software for K-12 Reviews

*Geometry Tutor Reviews

Graphing Calculator Reviews

Sketchup Reviews

$Cabri Reviews

Sketchup Review by Adela Ramos (USF Undergrad student)

Sketchup is a software intended to help on the areas such as architecture, engineering, interior design, film and stage, 3D printing, and construction. With SketchUp you are able to draw 2D and 3D geometric objetcs and also get the dimensions. Sketch Up contains a knowledge center, instructor window, video tutorials, and an extension warehouse to help the user understand the software. It has an organized layout that makes it easy to start working with it and its also easy to download. SketchUp allows the user to import, export, and generate reports on their drawings. Because it is multifunctional it is necessary to see the tutorial or read the guide before using it. After watching a tutorial it becomes easy to use. SketchUp has to be payed and only gives the user 460 hours for free. The prices per year are: $49 for a student, an educator gets it for free, $15 per seat for networked lab licenses, and $495+$95 for everybody else.

Geometry Software for Advanced High School students and College students
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Cinderella Review by Adela Ramos (USF Undergrad student)

"Cinderella is free geometric software used for programming, physics simulation, and geometry. It can be used to draw simple and complicated geometric figures, to show dynamic geometric figures, and to create interactive exercises and fractals. It allows the user to go between Euclidean, Hyperbolic, Elliptic and Projective Geometry views. This software supports pen-driven devices, audio, and importing and exporting images. Cinderella is an accessible software available in seven languages. It has an online manual and tutorial videos available in YouTube. It can be downloaded for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X, Mac OS 9, and Linux. A personal license can be purchased for $10 if the user wants to copyright his/her creations. Everybody could find this software useful. Teachers can create exercises. Students can visualize, understand, and answer the problems. Any person can create a figure, fractal, or animation of a problem. The advantage on using this software is that it has three functions for free. "

Geogebra Review by Adela Ramos (USF Undergrad student)

Geogebra is an accessible and organized geometric software. It can be downloaded through Windows, Mac OS X or as an application in the chrome browser or the web. It is easy to understand since the software contains tutorials. Geogebra shows the arithmetic, graphic, calculus, and statistics of a problem. However, the strong assets are the graphing and the arithmetic function. You can measure angles, distances, circumference, and slope among other measurement. You will find it easy to plot points, lines, and geometric shapes. But if you want to go beyond the basics it is necessary to read the tutorial document, which you can access though the software itself. Another advantage is that the creations can be uploaded and shared in the web. Teachers and students may find this software useful for their classes. And all of these functions are given without any cost.

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Coming Soon!

Coming soon in the next week or so will be additional updated links and also an area that shows some educators/schools that are using some of the software listed, complete with contact info and a review about the software. 7/11/2013 Update on the coming soon: The development and connecting of the various educators using some of the particular software listed is moving along well, just waiting to hear back from a few in email. Stay tuned!

10/6/2013 Update: The process of reviews for ussage of software is in progress. We have a wonderful USF undergrad working with us (Adela Ramos), who is searching the net, literture, etc, and is in the process of writing reviews for some of the software listed in the math geometry software section. This page also has a Polyhedra and Crystallography site source spot now. In the next month, we will have updated videos on crystallography! And a comment box! Stay tuned. Update 10/27/2013: the site is continuing to grow and our awesome undergrad Adela Ramos is doing a fantastic job. Thanks Adela! Included in this update is a new box that will be devoted to Chemistry and a software package that undergraduates use in their studies. It is called the Spectroscopy Database (SDBS), we will have a review with that soon. In our next update, pictures of people working on the website will be included in their profile boxes. I'm currently In Atlanta and it is cold here..burrrr..Next update in a week! Stay Tuned!