Mathematics and Technology

A middle school classroom in Maine


I listened to the Mathematics and Technology podcasts on itunes from the Maine Department of Education, which was hosted by Judy Chandler, Math teacher and member of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative. In the MLTI, each 7th and 8th grade middle school student and their teacher are provided with a laptop computer (Apple ibooks) for classroom instruction. The teachers attend workshops and classes to learn how to use the technology in the classroom Ms. Chandler's theory is that technology can be integrated into a math curriculum to enhance learning and improve critical thinking skills. Most of the teachers she has talked to though tend to just teach math out of the textbook which leads to either disconnection and disengagement of the students or they memorize meaningless procedures long enough to pass the test, then forget them (sounds like burp back education to me).

The use of technology to teach math in the classroom enhances student learning by: engaging the student, manipulative experiences with immediate feedback, exploring of math concepts, providing visual representatives, enhances communication and offers alternative ways to demonstrate learning. Ms. Chandler also stated that integrating technology into the math classroom offers a multisensory, collaborative learning environment (hands-on learning) which promotes greater understanding.

She also suggested we engage our students by asking questions. This would direct classroom discussions along with improving critical thinking skills. Ask them not only why is it so, but also what it is, where it came from, and how can it be? Use questions to summarize meaning. When students think hard they remember better and also learn how to think in the process.

I agree with Judy Chandler in the use of technology in the classroom. As a student who has always struggled with math, to have a resource where the material is represented in an alternative way besides just doing problems in a textbook may have made math concepts a little easier for me to grasp. I have had a few math classes where technology was used but it was mostly just a repeat of what was in the textbook for extra practice and quiz taking. Having a program to use where we can manipulate objects or some type of interactive program would have been a tremendous help.
Other podcasts like this one, where technology is integrated into the classroom as a tool, rather than an extra curricular activity, would be helpful to me as a teacher for ways to promote learning in my students.

I would like to use one of the programs she suggests in the classroom to help keep the students engaged and help them to remember the skills learned longer than after the exam. And if Alabama can someday, like Maine, provide each of our middle school students with laptop computers along with instructing our teachers on how to use the technology, then the possibilities for bringing technology into the classroom will be endless.

Ms. Chandler discussed a program on the podcast she has created called GeoGebra which is a combination of Algebra and Geometry. It can be found at the Maine's Actem noteshare website.