Guidelines for Creating Dynamic Worksheets

In our NSF project, middle school teachers can earn a master's degree in mathematics teaching by taking evening classes at Florida Atlantic University. Part of their assignments in these classes is to create multimedia lessons where they should also follow the design principles mentioned before. The following guidelines for the creation of dynamic worksheets with GeoGebra are based on our experiences from the work with teachers.

Dynamic Worksheet Layout

• Avoid scrolling: Your entire worksheet should fit on one screen. Students should not need to scroll between the tasks and the interactive applet (see Contiguity Principle). We consider 1024x768 or 1280x1024 pixels as today's usual screen size. With NVU you can use tables to arrange your texts, images, and interactive applets so they fit on one screen. If this is not possible, consider breaking your worksheet into several pages.
• Short explanation: At the beginning of your worksheet, give a short explanation of what the worksheet is about. This should be no more than one or two sentences.
• Few tasks: You will usually have questions or tasks to make sure that your students use the worksheet actively. Place these tasks close to the interactive applet (e.g. directly below it). Don't use more than three or four questions / tasks to avoid scrolling (see Contiguity Principle). If you have more tasks, consider breaking your worksheet into several pages.
• Avoid distractions: Neither use background or purely decorative images, nor background music on the web page (see Coherence Principle).

Interactive Applet

• Interactivity: Allow as much interactivity as possible in your applet. As a rule of thumb, all visible objects should be movable or changeable in some way. Your applet should provide plenty of freedom to explore the relations of its mathematical objects.
• Easy-to-use: Try to make your applet as easy to use as possible. If an object can be moved or changed, try to make this obvious, e.g. all movable points could be red. If you don't want objects to be changed, fix them (e.g. texts, functions or slider positions so they cannot be moved accidentally).
• Size matters: Your applet should be large enough to allow all intended manipulations, but small enough to fit on one screen and still leave sufficient space for explanations and questions on the surrounding web page.
• Use dynamic text: Dynamic text like the length of a changeable segment should be placed close to the corresponding object in your applet (see Contiguity Principle).
• Avoid static text: Too much text can easily clutter your interactive applet. Instead, place static text like explanations or questions on the web page that includes your applet.
• First appearance: When a dynamic worksheet is opened you should be able to read all labels (e.g. a point label should not be crossed by a line).

Texts

• Short, clear and personal style: Try to write your explanations and questions in a short, clear and personal style (see Personalization Principle).
• Small number of questions: Limit your number of questions or tasks per worksheet to three or four to avoid scrolling. If you want to ask more questions, create a new worksheet.
• Use specific questions: Avoid general questions like "What is always true about X?" and make clear what the students should do, e.g. "What happens to X when you move Y?". We recommend that your students should take notes while they work with a dynamic worksheet. If you want them to write down their answers on paper, say so on the worksheet.
• Refer to your applet: Your text should support the use of your interactive applet. For example, try to explain a new term by referring to your applet instead of using an isolated textual definition.
• Your audience are learners: If you want to provide information for other educators (e.g. lesson plan, solutions), do so in a separate document (e.g. web page, pdf). Your students should not be distracted or confused by such information.
• Demonstration applet: If your interactive applet is meant for presentation only it might be better to have no tasks or questions on the web page. If you include text, it should be understandable for students as well.