Three-dimensional concepts are difficult for students because they have difficulty with the conceptual transition between the three dimensional figures and their paper/pencil representations. This often leads to confusion when learning surface area and volume relationships. 3D Views bridges that gap in understanding by allowing teachers and students to build virtual manipulatives that can be viewed from all sides just like a real object. This enables the student to see how the object appears from the top, bottom, left, right, front and back promoting special sense and reasoning abilities. Additionally, 3D Views provides an “exploded” view exposing cubes which would otherwise be hidden. When active, the two-dimensional views screens hover above the three-dimensional figure showing the student how the figure appears from that side.
*Demonstrate how different figures can appear the same when drawn from a two-dimensional perspective.
*Hide the two-dimensional representations and have students create them based on figures.
*Build figures, paint the exposed surfaces, and “explode” the view so students can visualize the distinction between surface area and volume.
*Save images in your photos folder for insertion into worksheets, quizzes, and tests.
*Demonstrate how figures with the same volume can have different surface areas.
*Print figures on AirPort capable printers.