“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.” – David Warlick
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| https://www.pinterest.com/vinka99/recuperar/ |
Technology is everywhere – it’s present in almost
every aspect of a student’s life. So what does this mean for the education
system? More specifically, what might this look like in a math classroom? Although
I would consider myself “technology savvy” with everyday electronics, I will be
the first to admit I still have lots to learn about the use of technology in
the classroom. As I grow as a future educator, I am excited to expand my
knowledge on the possibilities of technology in mathematics.
What are the
benefits?
To begin, I think it’s extremely important that educators
need to be mindful that regardless of the type of technology being implemented (i.e.
phones, tablets, computers, etc.), the purpose of the activity should be
intended to deepen and enhance the students learning process. As we discussed
in class this week, the use of technology increases student engagement,
presents math in a fun way and increases proficiency. The use of technology
also gets students communicating with their peers about the math vocabulary,
concepts, characteristics and so on that they are exploring within the
activity. I believe that the use of technology is also extremely beneficial for
reaching the different needs and preferred learning styles of every student, as
it offers visual, tactile and auditory opportunities.
Desmos
This week in class, we had the opportunity to explore
the math tool Desmos. Considering I am a new user of Desmos, I was extremely impressed
with the many features the program has to offer. Our class participated in the activity Polygrpah, a “guess
who” style type of game set up by our instructor. Using a series of questions, we were trying to guess
our partner’s unknown parabola. An example of the activity
can be seen in the picture above. I can definitely see myself using this activity in my classroom. This activity promotes problem solving skills
and critical and creative thinking. The activity requires students to think
about the math vocabulary and characteristics of graphs and parabolas. One of
the less obvious benefits of using this type of activity is that it fosters
friendly competition amongst students as they become determined to guess their
partner’s parabola. I believe this style of game would work for a variety of
math topics and could also serve as a great assessment tool, either diagnostic
or formative. I know I really enjoyed the game and I can see it being a hit
with students!
As shown by Amy Lin, Desmos allows the teacher too see
exactly what questions are being asked by the students and their progress
throughout the activity. This is extremely beneficial because the teacher can
then identify students who may be struggling in certain areas (i.e. with the
vocabulary of certain terms or the characteristics of graphs) and tailor their
lesson to help students with these areas of difficulty. To conclude, our class
this week really caused me to stop and reflect on how I can use technology in
my future classrooms. As we live in the twenty-first century, a time driven by
technology, it will be very important not to only implement technology, but to
use it in a way that successfully enhances student’s knowledge and skills.
I’ll leave you with this short video which looks at
how a teacher uses technology in his math classroom.
Thanks for reading and have a good week,
Rachelle
For more on the benefits of technology in the classroom, go to Teachhub.com
Rachelle
For more on the benefits of technology in the classroom, go to Teachhub.com
Hi Rachelle,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post about Technology in the Classroom. I agree with what you said about technology improving student engagement and proficiency. I think its a great way to get all students involved in class. Sometimes math can seem boring or uninteresting but with the use of technology it can get all students interested in math. Desmos is a great example of a tool that will get students involved in the mathematics. I loved how it already has pre-made activities for teachers and allows teachers to track student progress.
Great post!
Jordan
Hey Rachelle,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post this week, as we share similar beliefs about technology in the classroom. There were also a couple points you brought up that stuck with me and made me think deeper about bringing technology into our teaching. You mentioned that technology is everywhere in students' lives and that we need to consider how it can look in the math classroom. I feel as though we can guide students into activities that use technology, but it would also be interesting to learn from our students. They have a wide range of experiences learning from technology and they may present unique learning opportunities that include games or lessons that they already enjoy. You also brought up the idea of Polygraph creating a sense of friendly competition in the classroom. In addition to creating competition between classmates, I also felt that I was working my hardest to beat my high score. This creates internal competition and will also encourage students to stay engaged.
Great post overall and have fun bringing technology into your lessons!
Hey Rachelle,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more that technology is a tool that can provide amazing interactive lessons if used correctly. Especially a program such a Desmos, which allows for so much customization, there is a way to incorporate it in all math classrooms. Students are entering our classrooms who grew up using technology all the time, so it only makes sense to try to incorporate it in their learning as well. You make a great point about technology being able to connect with students with a wide range of learning styles. Programs like Desmos makes differentiated instruction much easier for both the teacher and the student in a way that is fun and interactive. Hopefully more teachers will start to adopt this way of thinking and start to stray away from lecturing and assignment textbook questions. Great post!