Using Polypad in Activity Builder

Polypad and Activity Builder

Polypad is a collection of interactive digital manipulatives for teachers and students. The unique tools and features on Polypad enable exploration, creativity, and problem solving. This page focuses specifically on using Polypad inside of Activity Builder. For a more general overview of Polypad, visit Getting Started with Polypad.

Adding a Polypad to a Desmos Classroom Activity

Using Polypad inside Activity Builder is so easy. Start by inserting a Polypad component on the screen. From there, you can either create the Polypad from scratch or insert a Polypad from polypad.org. Perhaps you have one in your saved account or you found one from the Examples folder or from the Puzzles, Lessons, and Activities page. Either way, just copy the URL and paste it onto the Polypad inside Desmos Classroom. Learn more in this video.

Customizing a Polypad

Within Activity Builder, click on the gear in the left panel to access the settings for that Polypad and use the toggle to enter Authoring Mode. Here, you can decide what tiles will appear for students, what actions will be enabled for those tiles, and what is available in the toolbars. Click “Preview” in the upper right to view what students will see. Learn more about Authoring Mode:

Authoring Mode Introduction – Polypad

polypad.amplify.com/lesson/authoring

Polypad and Computation Layer

Polypad integrates with Computation Layer inside of Activity Builder to carry student work on a Polypad on one screen to a future screen, to validate student work in a variety of ways, and so much more. Learn more here:

polypad.amplify.com/lesson/authoring-computation-layer