For most people technology and math are two separate areas that have nothing in common. One's the future that's always changing and one's the past with specific algorithms and equations. However as an educator, fusing the two together has great advantages for students to learn and comprehend mathematics. Students are more versed in technology and it can aid in their understanding and engagement with math.
There are many different pieces of technology that teachers can use to present information, give examples, and practice mathematics. Most young to mid adults probably remember using overhead projectors and document readers. The present technology in classrooms is interactive white boards and iPads. And the future pieces of technology going to be used in classrooms is still to be developed. Technology is changing fast and teachers need to embrace this, learn the new ways, and teach using these pieces of technology because it's what the tech-savvy younger generations are already using in their free time and at home.
Interactive white boards are probably the most common piece of technology used for mathematical instruction. Students can see what is being taught with examples and visuals, rather than trying to imagine the concept in their head. Having students come to the board and complete problems and activities allows for the whole class to see how someone at their level is solving a problem. If students have multiple ways of solving a problem then allow for space to show these. This brings a piece of collaboration and entire classroom involvement to the lesson. This also brings a factor of enjoyment and motivation, students can come to the front of the classroom and show their work. Engaging the entire classroom; either having everyone write the answer to a specific problem and how they solved it on the board and comparing it, or having a race between teams to see who can solve and write their answer on the board first. Allowing for students to move around the room will gain their attention and excitement for math.
Animation and videos allow for engagement as well. These can be used to explain a lesson, concept, or problem; giving the teacher a break from lecturing and giving the students another way to listen to information. Here is a quick voki avatar I made. It's Abraham Lincoln and he is asking the class to figure out how many years he lived. By having an avatar ask a question that students have to listen to and figure out what operation to use, adds variety to the classroom and another way of presenting a problem.
In previous blog posts I talked about using iPads in the classroom. For mathematics lessons, each student could have an iPad and it would work like a white board but more fun! One way would be to write a problem on the board and have each student solve the problem on their iPad. Have each student hold up their iPad and see the answers, and if necessary share with the entire class different ways of solving the problem.
Computer games using math skills are great for free time or if a student is finished early. Quick and short math games allow for students to practice their basic math facts and retrieval of math facts quickly. This website of Interactive Math Sites is a "livebinder" with lots of tabs to different sites with interactive math games. While browsing I found some that would be great for individual practice, and some that could be used for a whole class activity.
In a study done in the UK in 2003, children said it was easier for them to remember things when using an interactive white board. Research has been done and is constantly continuing to be done to see if technology and the use of it in the classroom is beneficial to the students and their ability to grow as learners. Technology aids in children's learning because it engages them and motivates them to interact with the content and lesson being taught. Opportunities that involve visualisation and physical interaction will further the connections between concepts and real-world application.
References
Goldenberg E. P. (2000). Thinking (and talking) about technology in the math classroom. The K-12 Mathematics Curriculum Center, Issues in Mathematics Education. Retrieved from http://www2.edc.org/mcc/pdf/iss_tech.pdf
Prabhu, M. T. (2010). Technology adds to students' math comprehension. My eSchool News. Retrieved from
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/03/17/technology-adds-to-students-math-comprehension/?
Two kids at interactive white board picture. Retrieved From http://www.hmheducation.com/singaporemath/interactive
whiteboard-lessons.php
Girl at interactive white board picture. Retrieved From http://www.borenson.com/AboutHandsOnEquations/HandsOnEquationsfortheInteractiveWhiteboard/tabid/1383/Default.aspx
