"The prevalence in today’s society and classrooms of sophisticated yet easy-to-use calculators and computer software accounts in part for the inclusion of certain concepts and skills in this curriculum. The curriculum has been designed to integrate appropriate technologies into the learning and doing of mathematics, while equipping students with the manipulation skills necessary to understand other aspects of the mathematics that they are learning, to solve meaningful problems, and to continue to learn mathematics with success in the future. Technology is not used to replace skill acquisition; rather, it is treated as a learning tool that helps students explore concepts. Technology is required when its use represents either the only way or the most effective way to achieve an expectation."Note the final line highlighted in red font. Technology is actually required to be used when it is the best way to achieve a specific expectation within the classroom. For example, in an academic grade 9 mathematics class, many student's in the class may be struggling at understanding how the slope and y-intercept of a linear line can be used to generate an equation for that line. Platforms such as Desmos, an online tool used for graphing, can be used to engage students in graphing linear lines and also allows them to explore a variety of different linear lines by just simply inputting the equation of the line into the program.
Figure: Using Desmos to graph various linear lines.
The tool is easy and very quick for students to use. It will allow them to easily graph multiple lines and see how manipulating the equation changes the slope and y-intercept of the lines.
Smartboards are another popular new technology present within many classrooms. Smartboards can be used to create interactive lessons that can help increase classroom engagement. The lessons can be created so that students can come up to the board and interact with various objects to solve problems, much like using manipulatives for factoring.
Overall, technology should be used to help benefit the learning environment for your students. I believe it shouldn't be used to teach every expectation but should be used when it is the most effective way of teaching a certain topic.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post, I really enjoyed reading about you views regarding technology's place in the modern classroom. I like how you brought your opinions back to the curriculum to show how they align with what is mandated to be taught. Furthermore, this gives merit to instructors decisions when they decide to incorporate technology in the classroom, at least for math.
I like the point you made at the end of your post. It is always important to make sure you are teaching through the most effective domain possible... whether or not that is technology needs to be determined on a case by case basis.
Cheers,
Mike S.
Hi Ryan, I think it is really important that you highlighted the fact that in our curriculum documents it is stated that technology is required to be used. I also enjoyed using Desmos and exploring some of the features it has. I have seen the graphing version of it used a couple times in different observation placements and it is definitely more user friendly (and having many more features) than a graphing calculator. Great reading your blog again this week!
ReplyDeleteLaura
Hey great post, I like how you related the curriculum documents to the topic of technology in the classroom. It is important to understand that it is required to use technology in classrooms today but overuse can actually often disengage students. I think finding an appropriate balance between traditional methods and technological methods will provide the best learning environment for all students
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