The July 2025 APTeach session focused on familiarizing AP Chemistry teachers with the Desmos graphing calculator, which is embedded in Bluebook for student use during the AP Chemistry exam, as well as other standardized tests. We brought in Desmos expert (and ASP Calculus teacher) Yannabah Weiss and her collaborators to explain key features and applications of the online graphing calculator. We reviewed some typical AP Chemistry questions from recent exams and solved them using the Desmos calculator. We also explored some chemistry instructional resources created by Luca Preziati (University of Hawaii) on the pH scale, the pH of buffers, and the Nernst equation. While the Desmos calculators do not replace the use of handheld calculators, the more instructors know about this technology, the more students will benefit. The Desmos graphing calculator has a lot of functionality that AP Chemistry students can use in a variety of ways!
Getting to Know the Online Desmos Calculator
Video highlights from the July 2025 APTeach Session.
View the PRESENTATION SLIDEDECK and access resource links shared in the full presentation.
Watch the APTeach Session Notes and Updates article for summaries of past meetings and announcements for upcoming presentations.
Each one-hour APTeach Zoom session provides 15-20 minutes of discussion centered around a challenging chemistry topic, followed by breakout rooms that allow small groups of teachers to share their best teaching practices related to that content.
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