Desmos - Detailed Review
Education Tools
Desmos - Product Overview
Desmos Overview
Desmos is a versatile and interactive math education platform that has revolutionized the way mathematics is taught and learned. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:Primary Function
Desmos is fundamentally a tool for teaching and learning mathematics, focusing on making math more accessible, enjoyable, and visually engaging. It started as a powerful graphing calculator but has evolved into a comprehensive platform offering interactive lessons, activities, and real-time feedback.Target Audience
Desmos is designed for a broad audience, including students, teachers, and homeschooling parents. It is particularly useful for those in STEM education, from pre-college students to higher education learners. The platform’s user base is global, with a significant presence in countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, and the UK.Key Features
Interactive and Visual Learning
Desmos leverages technology to provide dynamic graphing tools, interactive activities, and real-time feedback. This approach helps students visualize and intuitively grasp complex mathematical concepts such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, and more.Desmos Classroom
The Desmos Classroom feature allows teachers to guide students through multi-step mathematical problems, enabling peer interaction and collaboration. It includes tools for scaffolding complex problem-solving, real-time monitoring of student responses, and facilitating discussions around each step of the problem-solving process.Activity Builder
Teachers can create their own custom activities using the Desmos Activity Builder or use pre-made sets of activities. This feature supports both independent and guided learning, making it versatile for different educational settings.Real-Time Feedback and Assessment
Desmos provides instructors with dashboards to view student responses in real-time, allowing for immediate feedback and formative assessment. This helps in identifying areas where students need additional support and in tracking their progress effectively.Accessibility and Privacy
Desmos is committed to accessibility and privacy. It collects minimal personal information, does not use student data for targeted advertising, and ensures that data is de-identified and aggregated for product development and research purposes.User-Friendly Interface
While Desmos offers a wide range of features, it is generally easy to use. The platform provides tutorials and guides to help new users get started, although some users may find a learning curve for more advanced features. Overall, Desmos is a powerful tool that enhances math education by making it more engaging, interactive, and visually appealing, while also providing valuable tools for teachers to manage and assess student learning. Desmos - User Interface and Experience
User Interface of Desmos
The user interface of Desmos is renowned for its intuitiveness and ease of use, making it an excellent tool for education in the mathematics domain.
Intuitive Interface
Desmos boasts a user-friendly interface that allows users to quickly and efficiently generate and modify visual representations of mathematical formulas. The interface is laid out in a clear and accessible manner, with key components such as the Expression Entry Field, where users can input equations, expressions, or functions, and the Graphing Window, which displays the graphs in real-time.
Ease of Use
The platform is highly intuitive, enabling users to perform standard operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with ease. The on-screen keyboard and functions panel provide additional buttons for trigonometry, exponents, and other advanced operations, reducing the need for manual input and making navigation simpler.
Graphing Capabilities
Desmos excels in graphing, allowing users to plot simple linear equations as well as complex functions effortlessly. The graphing window is interactive, and users can adjust various settings such as colors, line styles, labels, and even add sliders to dynamically manipulate variables in real-time. This feature enhances the interactive exploration of mathematical concepts.
Customization Options
Users have a range of customization options to tweak the appearance of graphs. They can adjust colors, line styles, labels, and background grids, which helps in creating visually appealing and clear visualizations. The ability to create and modify multiple layers on the same graph, including the use of parameters and overlapping variables, adds to the flexibility of the tool.
Interactive and Dynamic Exploration
Desmos facilitates dynamic exploration of mathematical concepts through its interactive interface. Users can vary parameters, add and remove variations, and shade the differences between curves, all of which contribute to a deeper and more engaging learning experience.
Feedback and Collaboration
For educational purposes, Desmos offers a feature that allows teachers to give feedback to students directly within the activity builder. This feature is particularly useful for distance learning, as it enables teachers to leave feedback that students can access easily, and it keeps all feedback in one convenient place.
Accessibility
Desmos prioritizes accessibility, ensuring that the visualizations it generates are accessible for students with various disabilities. This includes features that go beyond the capabilities of fixed-print forms and mechanical devices, making it an inclusive tool for all learners.
Conclusion
Overall, the user experience with Desmos is highly positive due to its intuitive interface, ease of use, and the extensive range of features that facilitate interactive and dynamic mathematical exploration.
Desmos - Key Features and Functionality
Desmos Overview
Desmos is a versatile and powerful online tool that has revolutionized math education with its interactive and engaging features. Here are the main features and how they work:Graphing and Visual Representations
Desmos allows users to create graphs effortlessly, whether it’s for simple linear equations or complex functions. The platform provides a grid-like canvas where users can input equations or expressions directly. This feature is enhanced by customization options such as adjusting colors, line styles, labels, and adding sliders to dynamically manipulate variables in real-time. This interactive approach helps students visualize mathematical concepts more effectively.Interactive Activities
Desmos goes beyond traditional graphing calculators by offering interactive activities that engage learners dynamically. Teachers can create custom activities where students can manipulate graphs, explore transformations, or solve equations interactively. These activities are available through a vast library of pre-made resources created by educators worldwide, covering topics like algebra, trigonometry, and statistics. This hands-on approach promotes active learning and encourages students to experiment with different inputs to observe the effects on the output.Desmos Classroom
Desmos Classroom is a feature that enables real-time interaction between teachers and students. Teachers can create virtual classrooms using a unique code, allowing students to join and access activities. This feature allows teachers to monitor student progress in real-time, identify areas of struggle, and provide instant feedback. The “teacher pacing” feature lets teachers control the flow of activities by unlocking new sections as students progress, ensuring a structured learning experience. Students can work individually or collaboratively, and the platform supports peer interaction, which is valuable for learning as students can explain concepts to each other in a way that is easy to understand.Accessibility and Availability
Desmos is highly accessible, available both online and as a mobile app, making it usable across various devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This flexibility allows students to continue their math explorations anytime, anywhere. Additionally, Desmos offers multilingual support, enabling non-native English speakers to navigate the platform comfortably.Customization and Interactivity
Desmos allows extensive customization of graphs and activities. Users can create multiple variants of a graph using lists and tables, and sliders enable real-time manipulation of parameter values. This interactivity helps in exploring mathematical concepts deeply. For example, teachers can add points, images, gifs, and videos to activities, which is particularly useful for supporting comprehension in ELL classes.Feedback and Progress Tracking
The Desmos Classroom feature includes a powerful feedback dashboard where teachers can get insights into students’ homework and progress in different activities. Teachers can see each student’s work live, identify areas of struggle, and provide timely interventions. This real-time feedback mechanism helps in addressing misunderstandings promptly and ensures students stay on track.Integration with Other Tools
Desmos can be integrated with other educational tools such as Google Classroom. Teachers can assign activities and resources directly from Desmos to Google Classroom, making it easy to manage and track student work. This integration also allows teachers to see the list of their students from Google Classroom in Desmos, streamlining the learning process.AI Integration
While the current resources do not specifically detail AI integration within Desmos, the platform’s interactive and dynamic features are designed to facilitate learning in a way that simulates intelligent feedback. For instance, the real-time tracking and feedback mechanisms, as well as the adaptive nature of the activities, contribute to an environment that feels highly responsive and adaptive, even if it is not explicitly driven by AI.Conclusion
In summary, Desmos offers a comprehensive suite of features that make it an essential tool for math education. Its ability to create interactive graphs, engage students through dynamic activities, and facilitate real-time feedback and collaboration makes it a valuable resource for both teachers and students. Desmos - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
Desmos is highly regarded for its innovative and interactive approach to math education. Here are some highlights:Engagement
Desmos activities are highly engaging, with an engagement score of 9/10. Many parents and educators note that students find math more enjoyable when using this tool.Personalization
Desmos allows for the customization of activities to meet individual learning needs, which is particularly beneficial for students with different learning styles and paces.Adaptability
It is adaptable for various grade levels and learning environments, making it a valuable tool for both homeschooling and traditional classroom settings.Accuracy
Desmos is praised for its accuracy in mathematical computations and instructional content:Mathematical Computations
Desmos is highly reliable and accurate in its mathematical computations, with an accuracy score of 10/10.Regression Improvements
The platform has made significant improvements in solving regression problems, including fitting models to data for trigonometric, exponential, and logistic models.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
While Desmos is highly effective, there are some areas that could be improved:User-Friendliness
Some users have noted a learning curve for more advanced features, with a user-friendliness score of 7/10. This suggests that while the basic features are easy to use, more complex functionalities may require some time to master.Special Needs
Desmos could improve in accommodating children with specific learning disabilities more comprehensively, with a special needs score of 6/10.Competitive Nature
There are minor concerns about the competitive nature of timed activities, which could cause stress for certain students.Educational Impact
Studies have shown that using Desmos can significantly improve students’ performance and learning experience:Improved Performance
A study involving high school students found that using Desmos led to a statistically significant improvement in their understanding and analysis of function concepts compared to a control group.Visual Learning
Desmos enhances learning through visual tools, allowing students to visualize and analyze functions more effectively than with traditional paper and pencil methods. In summary, Desmos is a highly effective and accurate tool for math education, known for its engaging and personalized learning experiences. However, it has some areas for improvement, particularly in user-friendliness for advanced features and better accommodation for special needs. Overall, it remains a valuable resource for educators and students alike. Desmos - Pricing and Plans
The Pricing Structure of Desmos
The pricing structure of Desmos, an AI-driven education tool, is relatively straightforward and student-friendly. Here are the key points:
Free Access
Desmos offers a completely free version of its services, which includes a wide range of tools and features. Students, teachers, and other users can access the basic resources and tools without any cost. This free version includes:
- A graphing calculator through Desmos Studio.
- Digital math activities such as Card Sorts and Polygraphs through Desmos Classroom.
- Access to a scientific calculator, geometry tool, and other math-related tools.
No Standard Fee
There is no standard fee for using Desmos. The basic tools and resources are available for free, and there are no advertisements or selling of student data to generate revenue.
Paid Partnerships
Desmos generates revenue through paid partnerships with publishers, assessment companies, and educational institutions. These partnerships provide organizations with advanced resources and support, but the specifics of these partnerships and their costs are not publicly disclosed.
Additional Resources
While the core tools are free, some advanced resources and math curricula may be available for a fee, although the pricing details for these are not publicly available and would need to be obtained directly from Desmos.
Summary
In summary, Desmos provides a comprehensive set of free tools and resources, with additional support and advanced features available through partnerships with educational organizations. There are no standard fees for individual users, making it highly accessible for students and teachers.
Desmos - Integration and Compatibility
Desmos Overview
Desmos, a popular graphing and teaching tool, integrates well with other educational tools and maintains a high level of compatibility across various platforms and devices.
Integration with Lumio
One of the significant integrations is with Lumio, a digital learning tool by SMART Technologies. This collaboration allows teachers to add the Desmos Graphing Calculator directly into Lumio lessons. This integration enables students to engage with their own version of the graphing calculator, whether they are in class or working remotely. Teachers can set up learning activities using the Desmos graphing calculator or add pre-made math resources to their Lumio lessons, enhancing the interactive and collaborative learning experience.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Desmos is accessible on multiple platforms, including the web, iOS, and Android. This cross-platform compatibility ensures that students and teachers can use the tool on a variety of devices, making it versatile for different learning environments.
Accessibility Features
Desmos has made significant efforts to ensure its accessibility. The tool is compliant with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards, which includes respecting font-size settings for low vision users, ensuring sufficient color contrast, and making graphs accessible to fully blind students through improved screen reader accessibility. This makes Desmos usable for a wide range of students, including those with visual impairments.
Limitations in Embedding External Tools
While Desmos integrates well with specific tools like Lumio, it does not support embedding other external tools directly within its platform. However, teachers can link to other sites from within Desmos, although this does not allow for interactive recording of student work within the Desmos interface. Instead, teachers are encouraged to build activities and tools within the Desmos environment itself.
Real-Time Interaction and Collaboration
Desmos Classroom, a feature of the Desmos tool, allows for real-time interaction and collaboration among students. Teachers can create lessons with multiple challenges and questions, and students can view and compare their responses with peers. This feature enhances the collaborative learning experience and provides teachers with real-time feedback on student progress.
Conclusion
In summary, Desmos integrates seamlessly with tools like Lumio, is compatible across various devices and platforms, and offers strong accessibility features. While it has limitations in embedding external tools, it provides a comprehensive and interactive learning environment through its own built-in features.
Desmos - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support Options
Desmos offers a comprehensive array of customer support options and additional resources to ensure users can effectively utilize their education tools.Technical Support
Desmos provides several channels for technical support. Users can reach out via email for various needs:- For general support, contact
support@desmos.com. - For accessibility-related questions or feedback, email
accessibility@desmos.com. - For privacy and data-related inquiries, contact
privacy@desmos.com. - During the initial setup and deployment, as well as during the contract duration, Desmos offers support through synchronous calls with a Desmos coach and an email support desk.
Online Resources
Desmos maintains an extensive online knowledge base with support articles detailing core aspects of their tools. This includes:- A help center with FAQs, tutorials, and guides on how to use Desmos tools effectively.
- A ‘What’s New’ page where users can discover all the new features of Desmos.
- An API documentation page for those interested in integrating Desmos tools into their own platforms.
Professional Development
Desmos offers various professional development opportunities to help educators make the most out of their tools:- Free professional learning webinars and on-demand recordings to showcase effective strategies for using Desmos tools in the classroom.
- A two-hour virtual onboarding session and monthly synchronous webinars for personalized assistance from Desmos coaches.
- Training resources such as demonstration videos and tutorials available in the help center.
Teacher and Student Tools
Desmos Classroom provides a range of tools to facilitate teaching and learning:- Interactive lessons, virtual manipulatives, and teaching tools that can be customized to fit specific classroom needs.
- The ability for teachers to create and assign lessons, monitor student thinking in real time, and provide written feedback to students digitally.
- Family Resources that offer unit summaries, key concept explanations, and problems for families to work on with their students.
Accessibility Features
Desmos is committed to accessibility, offering features such as:- Robust keyboard navigation
- Math-aware text-to-speech
- Audio trace
- Display enlargement
- Reverse contrast
- Braille mode
accessibility@desmos.com for more information on these features.
Community Engagement
Desmos also engages with its community through various channels:- Monthly customer newsletters that highlight upcoming professional development opportunities, new features, and teacher tips.
- A podcast called “Beyond My Years” that features stories from seasoned educators.
Desmos - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Desmos
Desmos is a highly regarded educational tool that offers several significant advantages in the education sector, particularly in math education.Interactive and Visual Learning
Desmos enhances visualization and conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts through its interactive graphing calculator and dynamic visualizations. Students can plot graphs, manipulate variables, and observe real-time changes, which helps in gaining a deeper understanding of various mathematical functions and equations.Engagement and Enjoyment
The platform is highly engaging, making math more enjoyable for students. The interactive nature of Desmos activities keeps students involved and interested, which is particularly beneficial for visual learners and those who need to see concepts in action to comprehend them.Collaborative Learning
Desmos facilitates collaborative learning by allowing students to work together on projects and assignments. Students can share screens, discuss their answers, and engage in group discussions, promoting teamwork and collaborative learning.Ease of Use and Accessibility
Despite some advanced features requiring a learning curve, Desmos generally has a user-friendly interface that is easy for both teachers and students to use. It is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, making it a convenient tool for continuous learning outside the classroom.Customization and Personalization
Desmos allows for the customization of activities to meet individual learning needs. Teachers can create individualized resources, edit existing ones, and assign different activities to groups or individual learners. This adaptability makes it suitable for a range of grade levels and learning styles.Integration with Curriculum and Assessment
Desmos seamlessly integrates with existing curriculums and assessments. Teachers can embed interactive graphs into lesson plans, assign pre-made activities, and track student progress through a powerful feedback dashboard.Cost-Effective
Many of Desmos’ tools and resources are available for free, with premium options providing additional features. This makes it a cost-effective tool for schools and students.Disadvantages of Desmos
While Desmos offers numerous benefits, there are also some notable disadvantages to consider.Limited Offline Functionality
Since Desmos is a web-based tool, it requires an internet connection to function, which can be a significant disadvantage in areas with poor internet connectivity.Learning Curve for Advanced Features
Although the basic features are generally easy to use, some advanced features of Desmos can have a learning curve, particularly for those not familiar with digital learning tools.Limited Features for Advanced Learning
While Desmos is comprehensive, it may not have all the features required for advanced mathematical learning. Some users might find it lacking in certain specialized areas.Dependence on Technology
The use of Desmos increases the dependence on technology for learning, which can be problematic if there are technical issues or disruptions.Potential for Excessive Focus on Standard Testing
Some parents and educators have expressed minor concerns that some activities might focus too much on standard testing rather than holistic learning.Special Needs Accommodation
While Desmos is useful, it could improve in accommodating children with specific learning disabilities more comprehensively.In summary, Desmos is a valuable tool for math education, offering interactive, visual, and collaborative learning experiences. However, it has limitations such as the need for internet connectivity, a learning curve for advanced features, and some gaps in accommodating special needs and advanced learning requirements.
Desmos - Comparison with Competitors
Unique Features of Desmos
Interactive and Visual Learning
Desmos is renowned for its ability to turn abstract mathematical concepts into visual and interactive experiences. The Desmos Graphing Calculator allows students to manipulate graphs, explore statistical models, and tackle problems in a visually engaging way, which enhances student engagement and factual accuracy.
Customizable Content
Desmos offers a high degree of adaptability, allowing educators to create customized lessons that fit specific classroom needs. The Desmos Activity Builder enables teachers to design interactive lessons that can be easily integrated into their teaching plans.
Collaboration and Sharing
Desmos Classroom facilitates peer-to-peer interaction, enabling students to compare their responses and exchange perspectives on the reasoning behind their answers. This feature promotes collaborative learning and helps in identifying and addressing any misconceptions.
Real-Time Feedback and Assessment
Desmos Classroom provides instructors with real-time feedback on student responses, allowing for immediate assessment and adjustment of teaching strategies. This feature helps in tracking student progress and identifying areas that need additional support.
Potential Alternatives
GeoGebra
While GeoGebra is similar to Desmos in its use of interactive visualizations, it is more versatile and can be used for a broader range of mathematical topics, including geometry. However, GeoGebra may not be as user-friendly for students lacking sufficient computer knowledge.
Woot Math
This AI-powered math education platform provides personalized learning experiences with real-time feedback and support. Unlike Desmos, Woot Math focuses more on adaptive learning pathways and less on the interactive graphing capabilities.
Gradescope
Although primarily a digital grading and assessment tool, Gradescope uses AI to assist in grading and provides analytics. It does not offer the same level of interactive learning and visualization as Desmos but is valuable for automating the grading process.
Other Considerations
Smart Sparrow
This adaptive e-learning platform uses AI to personalize learning and provide real-time feedback but is not specifically focused on mathematics. It offers interactive lessons but lacks the graphing and visualization capabilities of Desmos.
Querium and GradeSlam
These AI-powered tutoring platforms provide personalized learning experiences and real-time feedback, but they are more focused on general tutoring rather than the specific interactive and visual learning features offered by Desmos.
In summary, Desmos stands out for its interactive and visual approach to learning mathematics, its customizable content, and its real-time feedback mechanisms. While alternatives like GeoGebra, Woot Math, and other AI-driven tools offer unique benefits, Desmos remains a strong choice for educators seeking to enhance math education through interactive and engaging methods.
Desmos - Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create and manage a Desmos Classroom?
Desmos Classroom allows teachers to create virtual classrooms where they can share activities, monitor student progress, and provide instant feedback. To set up a Desmos Classroom, you need to create a free teacher account. Once you have your account, you can find and explore pre-made sets of activities, assign them to your class, and manage the activities through the teacher dashboard. You can access curriculum and assign activities, and there are extensive resources and documentation available to help you get started.How can I facilitate real-time interaction and collaboration in Desmos Classroom?
Desmos Classroom enables real-time interaction between teachers and students. Students can join the classroom using a unique code provided by their teacher. Within the classroom, students can work on activities individually or collaboratively with their peers. Teachers can observe students’ work in real-time, identify areas of struggle, and provide timely interventions. The “teacher pacing” feature allows teachers to control the flow of activities by unlocking new sections as students progress.What are some key features of Desmos for teaching mathematical concepts?
Desmos offers several essential features to help students explore mathematical ideas. You can create dynamic tables, graphs, and sliders that allow students to make predictions, notice patterns, and construct understanding. These tools are particularly useful for teaching concepts ranging from pre-algebra through calculus and statistics. Desmos also supports the creation of interactive and social graph-based assignments, which help students move from concrete to abstract thinking.How can I ensure students complete activities correctly and sequentially in Desmos Classroom?
To ensure students complete activities correctly and sequentially, you can use the “teacher pacing” feature to control the flow of activities. This allows you to unlock new sections only when students have completed the previous ones. Additionally, you can mark correctness in each component of the activity, ensuring that students must complete each part correctly before moving on. This can be managed through the teacher dashboard, where you can view student responses in real-time and provide feedback.How do I hide elements or reveal them based on student actions in Desmos activities?
In Desmos, you can hide elements until certain conditions are met. For example, you can hide a math input until a student has completed a previous task or sketched something. This can be achieved using conditional logic within the activity. However, the exact syntax and implementation may require some technical knowledge, and you might need to refer to the Desmos support materials or forums for detailed instructions.Can Desmos Classroom support peer-to-peer interaction and feedback?
Yes, Desmos Classroom supports peer-to-peer interaction and feedback. Students can compare their responses to other students’ responses, enabling exchanges of perspective about the reasoning behind their answers. This feature fosters collaboration and allows students to learn from each other, as they can see and discuss different approaches to solving problems.How do I access and use pre-made activities in Desmos Classroom?
Desmos provides a wide range of pre-made activities that you can access and assign to your students. You can find these activities through the Desmos Classroom interface, where you can browse and select activities suitable for your curriculum. There are activities available for various grade levels and subjects, from kindergarten through calculus. The documentation and support materials provide step-by-step guides on how to find, assign, and manage these activities.How can I ensure accessibility for all students when using Desmos Classroom activities?
Desmos Classroom activities include “Accessibility Notes” at the bottom of each activity description to help ensure that the activities can be used by all students. When using or adapting activities from Desmos collections, it’s important to check these notes to make any necessary adjustments for students with different needs. Additionally, the Desmos support materials offer guidance on making activities accessible.What kind of support and resources are available for using Desmos Classroom?
Desmos offers extensive support and resources to help teachers get started and make the most of Desmos Classroom. These include a comprehensive digital resource handbook, step-by-step guides, screenshots of the teacher dashboard, and suggested ways to use Desmos for various mathematical concepts. You can also contact the Desmos team or instructional designers for additional support and consultations.How can I monitor student progress and provide feedback in Desmos Classroom?
Desmos Classroom provides multiple dashboards that allow teachers to monitor student progress in real-time or later. You can view student responses to each individual problem, identify areas of struggle, and provide timely feedback. The teacher dashboard offers various views, including a gradebook-style view and real-time views for synchronous activities, helping you to track student progress effectively.