After searching for a bit I found a tool I could use in class on a regular basis. GeoGebra is very similar to Geometer's Sketchpad in the same way that Google Docs is similar to Word. The commands and menus are basically the same but instead of paying $30 for a student edition it can be used on-line at any time from any computer or be downloaded for free for off-line use. No longer would geometry teachers have to worry about having enough protractors etc., if there are enough coumputers. Students can also save their constructions to the desktop or as a dynamic worksheet/webpage.
Example of Student Project using GeoGebra
Students would be required to use this page to analyze how linear functions change when changing the x and y value of a given point. (a problem will be that the algebra view shows the form Ax + By = C not y=mx+b). Students will change the graph and describe the changes they see in the function. A worksheet and classroom discussion would guide them through the process with guided questions but they would be required to write all their descriptions in text boxes directly into the dynamic worksheet as they work. Students would be required to save their work as a dynamic worksheet and then post it to the class webpage and be required to comment on the work of 3 other students as to correctness etc.
GeoGebra
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