Using Technology in Mathematics

These two podcasts consist of thoughts from Judy Chandler, a Technology Integration Specialist and Mathematics teacher as well as a math mentor trainer for the Maine Mentor Training Initiative. She is trying to explain the benefits, and really the necessity, of using technology in the math classroom. We tend to think of math as very structured and linear, and taught in the classroom using examples. Chandler explains that this leads to kids falling behind because they don't understand the material as well as some students merely memorizing steps only to forget them after they have have stopped using them. Chandler says we must reinforce what we teach our students and make connections for them. Technology is a great way to do this. It can use graphics and learning techniques that are difficult to use in the classroom due to logistics and time constraints. These techniques can help students gain understanding and learn to think critically about math rather than just memorizing steps.

As a lifetime hater of all things mathematics I think I would have really benefited from using technology in the classroom to help aid in my understanding. I simply memorized how the teacher worked the problem and as soon as I was done with the information, I promptly removed it from my memory. This total lack of understanding in mathematics is part of the reason I decided to throw myself into English, which was the catalyst for my decision to teach English. I think even though I am not planning on teaching math (and for your kid's sake you should hope I don't change my mind) the ideas presented in these podcasts are still very useful to all teachers.

Learning should not only take place in one venue. Since we now have available to use such great outside resources due to technology, there is no excuse for a student just learning in the four walls of a classroom. As teachers, we should help them learn to build upon what we teach them by using things such as the Internet. If a student has difficulty understanding something, no matter what the subject, he or she now has more to rely on for help than just the teacher. Of course, we want to always be available to provide help for our students but sometimes they might have more success from another source. Perhaps they can find something that explains it in a way that makes more sense to them. Through technology they might even find help from other students, who sometimes can explain things to their peers more effectively than teachers.

I thought Ms. Chandlers podcasts really highlighted how useful technology can be, even in places we might not expect it. The more sources an individual has for learning, the more reinforcement they gain and the more effective their learning. Thank to the great strides in technology, student learning is no longer just confined to the classroom.