Using JavaSketchpad to Create Interactive Geometry Webpages

Catherine A. Gorini
cgorini@mum.edu
Department of Mathematics
Maharishi University of Management
Fairfield, IA 52557-1066


The Geometer's Sketchpad dynamic software has a new feature that allows users to save almost any sketch as an interactive Java applet that can be incorporated into a webpage. This presentation will show how to convert a Geometer's Sketchpad into a JavaSketchpad applet and put it into a webpage.


The following points for using JavaSketchpad most effectively will be discussed:

How to get started with JavaSketchpad: Demonstration of how to convert a Geometer's Sketchpad sketch to a JavaSketchpad applet

How to work around the limitations of JavaSketchpad: What GSP features work, what features won't work, tricks to get what you want

How to edit the html files produced by JavaSketchpad: what you can do, what you can't do

How to create a webpage with a JavaSketchpad applet: just cut and paste using an html editor (I will supply a template.)

How to get JavaSketchpad applets working on your website: where to put the jsp folder, how to link to it

How to share your webpages with others: put in a folder containing the jsp folder and compress the folder Other technical issues: size and speed

We will conclude with points about making these webpages effective for student learning.