Review by Alicia Carter, Common Sense Education | Updated May 2013
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PhET Equation Grapher

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Interactive graphing tool lacks instruction or support for students

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • Math
Skills
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
8–12
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (4 Reviews)
Price:  Free
Platforms:  Website

Take a look inside

5 images
Users can manipulate the three variables of the polynomial equation and see how the changes affect the graph.
Example of a graph created using the tool.
Students can also graph up to two equations at a time for comparison.
Graph linear equations by entering a value of zero for the appropriate terms.
A brief explanation of how to use the tool's features is available on the publisher’s website.

Pros: Helps students put what they’ve learned about graphing equations into practice.

Cons: Lack of direct instruction keeps kids from using the tool independently; students have to already know what they're doing mathematically to understand what's happening.

Bottom Line: Good for supplemental use in the classroom or practice at home, but students need to know some basics about graphing first.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

PhET Equation Grapher is effective and visual, adapting immediately to changes made in the equation, but it's weak in actual instruction. It will be a good tool for students who already have graphing knowledge to practice and extend, but it won't be good for graphing beginners looking to learn.

Use PhET's Equation Grapher in the classroom after instruction on graphing as a way for students to practice creating graphs for different situations. They can explore how changing variables affects the graph. You could also use it after a graphing assignment for students to check the graphs they created.

Continue reading Show less

PhET Equation Grapher is a graphing simulator that lets students graph polynomials and see how changing the variable values affects the graphs. Students get started by simply going to the site and manipulating the variable values. Results are instantaneous. Students need prior knowledge of the subject matter to make sense of the data, but there's a brief instruction page on the tool's website to help users or teachers get started. This is also the place to find teaching ideas submitted by other teachers and to download versions in other languages (there are many).

The simulator is easy to use, and students can quickly change the data to observe the results. The more experience and instruction students have in graphing, the easier this will be to use.

For kids who have some experience with polynomials and graphing equations, the site will be very useful. They can explore the cause-and-effect relationships involved in changing one or more variable within an equation. Students can also graph up to two equations at a time for comparison. They can compare the equation as a whole to the corresponding equation for one term (when the other terms are zeroed out). It's also possible to graph linear equations by entering a value of zero for the appropriate terms.

However, students without previous knowledge or experience graphing equations will have a difficult time learning from the site. There's no direct instruction on how to use the tool within the simulator itself, so students have to figure out what changed as they make adjustments to the values. A helpful addition would be some basic explanation of how to graph polynomials that students could refer to when getting started. It would also be helpful if the graph allowed for a wider range of possible inputs, so students could graph larger values.

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

High school students will find the puzzle-like simulations intriguing. The design quality isn't very sophisticated but it gets the job done.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Students are empowered to build their own understanding as they choose their own variables and predict the outcomes. They'll see what happens when variables are manipulated, and can transfer this learning to other contexts and situations.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Great tips are available for teachers, but student support while using the simulation is missing. The site is accessible in over 30 languages.

 

Common Sense Reviewer
Alicia Carter Homeschool instructor
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Teacher Reviews

(See all 4 reviews) (4 reviews) Write a review
Featured review by
Stephanie C. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Currey Ingram Academy
Brentwood, TN
Interactive Tool for Graphing Polynomials
PhET equation grapher is an online polynomial graphing website with a great concept, but it strictly just shows the graph. There are no sample problems. I liked that the students were able to see how the graphs of polynomials change. The product would serve my classroom better if the website gave practice problems for the students to graph. I had to give the students specific equations to type in, and then tell them how to change the equations so they could see how the graphs change. This website is very basic, but is great for a teacher led lesson.
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