Math Students Engaging with Desmos Graphing Calculator

Desmos Graphing Calculator is a great app to use on your smartphone. A lot of math teachers nowadays don't think about smartphones as being excellent tools to have in class. Obviously students shouldn't have their smartphones during testing, but they can have their smartphones while doing normal assignments. In today's society almost every student has an Android or Apple and this app is available on both!

Usability: Desmos Graphing Calculator is very easy to use. There are no tutorials however it has a very simple setup. To get going all you need to do is type in the equation you want graphed, and the calculator will automatically graph it on the screen above the symbol keys.

Support: Desmos does not have any instructions or tutorials, but the app is very simplistic. If the user ever used a calculator before then they will know how to use Desmos.

Engaging: This app is very engaging. Since it has such a simple design anyone can use it. It can be downloaded on all IOS and Android phones. Students will naturally pick this app because it works with all equations that are able to be graphed. In the time that I have used it, I did not come across any bugs. It works well and it is a very useful tool for math classes.

Export/Sharing: This app is completely offline so there will be no need for an internet connection to use it. This also means that there will be no sharing of any sort while on the app. Within the app you will not be able to send any graphs to others online. The app does offer you to make an account. This will allow you to save your graphs in the cloud.

Customization: You will be able to customize what types of graphs you will need from the equations, but that's about it. Since this app is just a simple calculator there really isn't any need to customize anything else. Looking at the button layout and the menus everything is straight forever, and no editing of the app is necessary.

Collaboration: Desmos does offer a cloud system, but that is only for saving graphs for the future. There is no collaboration between accounts. The accounts are only there to load and save progress.

Import: There are no import options for this app. This app is only to help with graphing equations. It’s a simple but useful tool. No imported files are needed. The app stays relatively updated throughout the year, so if any new advancements are made in math than the app will be up to date.

Desmos Graphing Calculator is exactly what it says it is. This app is a very simple tool for all math students. It's responsive and easy to use. The app also allows users to create an account so that they are able to save progress in the cloud. Students will pick this app over others because it's easier than a regular graphing calculator, free, fast, and it isn't as clunky as some graphing calculator simulations.