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| The ClassPad began to evolve when CASIO’s top
engineers asked the question: What type of educational tool will be
needed in the future? During 1996, CASIO worked on the CAS (Computer
Algebra System) and studying Geometry. Many people throughout the world
began helping CASIO with design ideas for a future product. What is
needed to help students learn mathematics? |
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| In 1997 CASIO continued their research. They took
an in-depth look at what math education is and, in general, what mathematics
is. During this year, they also continued to improve their current
line of calculators and released the cfx-9850 / fx-9750 graphing calculator. |
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| The question “How do we solve a math problem?” played
an important part in the design stage of the ClassPad. A math problem
is more than a solution. Each step to the solution is an important
part of the learning process. Can we develop a tool that will let students
experience each step of a problem, as they would in a textbook? |
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| In 1999 CASIO’s past years of research paid
off. With the help of many teachers and friends, the idea of the eActivity
emerged. What is an eActivity? Initially, it was an idea that would
allow all applications to interact from within one application, and
display information in a textbook style. Today their idea is a reality.
But, to bring this idea to life was not easy. CASIO is still improving
the current line of calculators and released the fx-2.0 graphing calculator
in this year. The fx-2.0 is CASIO’s first graphing calculator
with a CAS system. CASIO needed more engineers. |
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| In 2000 CASIO opened a new office, the CASIO Education
Technology M.R.D. Center in Portland, Oregon, USA. They hired engineers
familiar with programming PC’s and specialists from the education
field. Ideas from around the world were now being implemented into
the ClassPad by Tokyo R&D and Portland MRD Team. |
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| In 2002 CASIO completed a prototype for the ClassPad.
Before the prototype was complete, an emulator was used for testing.
The emulator was so nice that CASIO decided to include the emulator
in the software that was being developed for data transfer. The data
transfer and emulator software merged into one product called the ClassPad
Manager. |
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| What makes the ClassPad unique? Is it the ability
to drag and drop information between two windows displaying on the
screen, the ability to enter text and math in one window, or the ability
to visualize the relationship between Algebra and Geometry? Or, could
it be the ability to write eActivities that will encourage students
of all ages to explore mathematics? We think all of these features
make the ClassPad a unique new tool for the classroom or anyone who
enjoys exploring mathematics. |
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