Tools for Exploring a Mathematical World
Tabula was created by David Hartmann, a math teacher with 10 years of experience at both the high school and middle school levels. David created the program to help students learn and teachers teach abstract concepts through familiar manipulation of shapes. David also designed the program to make transformations as accessible to young minds as possible through animation. Teachers can use the program to lecture and present or to guide and extend activities. Students can use the program to learn and apply concepts. Hobbyists can use unique features such as folding to do what other programs can't. In educational settings Tabula is targeting 5th grade math through high school geometry classrooms.
| Transformation | |
| With the aid of animation and a pushpin, figures can be transformed in an intuitive and visually accessible way. | |
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Rotate - define center and angle |
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Dilate - define center and scale factor |
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Reflect - define mirror figure |
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Translate - define magnitude & direction |
| Manipulation | |
| Investigate geometric relationships and the results of subdividing and combining shapes. The manipulation tools are designed to mimic and extend what can be done with familiar materials and tools. | |
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Fold figures such as segments, polygons and ellipticals leaving creases if desired. |
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Cut figures along a path. |
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Tape polygons together. |
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Use a pushpin when transforming. |
| Measurement | |
| Use these instruments to measure and analyze figures. These instruments double as working models of real instruments. This is excellent for demonstrating usage. Models for both traditional and safety compasses are included. | |
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Make construction arcs and circles. |
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Measure length in cm., in. or unitless. |
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Measure angles in radians and degrees. |
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Measure the area of polygons. |
| Presentation | |
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With presentation technology such as an interactive whiteboard or projector and screen, Tabula can deliver interactive lessons and activities. Write, draw, and work with geometric objects in a new and exciting way. |
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Smartmarks remain attached to a figure. |
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Erase marks. |
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Add text and expressions. |
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Toggle the grid and axes. |
Style - change the appearance of figures.
File options - print or export your work as an image (png or bmp), web page, or as an xml.
Expressions - use constants, operations, functions, and references to figures in the workspace.
| Construction | |
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Tools for creating shapes are organized in trays. Some (not all) of the tools are listed below. |
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Basics - point, midpoint, segment, ray, line, polygon, circle, and more |
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Special Lines - parallel, perpendicular, horizontal, vertical, bisectors |
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Special Polygons - isosceles triangles, rectangles, trapezoids, and more |
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Transfomations - rotated figure, reflected figure, translated figure, dilated figure, vector |
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Extras - half-plane, ellipse, bezier, locus, function, slider, and more |
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Custom - create and add your own tools (e.g. a parallelogram tool). |