I looked over Holly, Stephen, and Matt's lesson plan on teaching linear functions. It seems that in addition to teaching traditionally how to plot points, graph a line based on a given linear equation, and derive the equation given it's graph, the group decided to allow students to use the app Geogebra.
I quickly looked over the Geogebra website; it seems it provides a way to manipulate graphs of functions in a far easier and more fluid fashion than basic pen and paper allows. The app reminds me of my college statistics course, which used a number of computer programs or websites that allowed for similar manipulation of data. In my experience, these sorts of simulations can be enormously helpful in understanding otherwise abstract concepts.
In addition, these sorts of computer manipulations provide a certain "fun" aspect to math problems. For me, clicking around on a computer screen and watching the effects is just fun on a very basic level; when this activity is connected to a mathematical equation (that would otherwise seem quite dry on the paper) this computer-based fun converts to educational computer-based fun.
I envision that this lesson would take place in the school's computer lab. Already, the act of hosting class in a different location than the norm makes the class exciting for adolescent students. By adding visually stimulating software to the lesson, this basic algebra class could be especially engaging.
