Topic: Using technology to improve Mathematic skills in the
classroom
Technology has greatly influenced the learning of mathematics, particularly internet based
technologies. The following resources indicate that teachers can explain the mathematical concepts
easier when intergrading the technological approach, which in the same ways helps the students better
grasp the these difficult mathematical concepts.
Journal Article- Julie Herron
This article discusses a study that was conducted at University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. An
assignment was given to pre-service teachers about teaching a maths lesson using IA (Instructional
Architect). Instructional Architect is where you find resources that relevant and applicable to the
students your teaching. Then you create web pages that provide instructions for each online activity
(Julie Herron, 2010). Each project had to contain five maths standards (numbers and operations,
geometry, algebra, data analysis/probability and measurement) for the age level they were working in.
Once the lesson was taught they were to write a reflection paper that answered these three questions:
(1) how did you feel about the overall experience of implementing technology into a mathematics
lesson? (2) What did you learn as you implemented a math lesson with technology? (3) How can you
use technology, such as IA, in your future mathematics teaching? (Herron, Julie, 2010). The insight to
this study showed that with the help of technology mathematical concepts were easier to explain for
the teachers and easier for the students to grasp. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
(NCTM) technology principle states, “Technology is essential in teaching and learning mathematics;
it influences mathematics that is taught and enhances students’ learning” (NCTM, 2000, p. 24).
Conference paper – International Conference on Technology in Mathematics Teaching- Marie
Joubert, Alison Clark-Wilson and Michael McCabe
The main purpose of this conference paper was to discuss the investigation into how mathematical
Teachers use a technological approach in teaching mathematics. A questionnaire was prepared and
sent to 120 different mathematical teachers. They were asked how they approached the technological
approach when teaching mathematics. There were two main results that come out of this
questionnaire, most were not quite sure in their approach into teaching maths using a technological
approach and other didn’t even consider using technology when planning their maths lessons.
This conference paper then talks about and gives examples of different maths standards (numbers and
operations, geometry, algebra, data analysis/probability and measurement) and how you could
intergrade a technological approach.
Website - Cambridge HOTmaths
HOTtmaths is an interactive online fun maths learning system. This website caters for middle, upper
and secondary learning levels and covers many different maths topics. The online resources range
from interactive 600 games online (widgets), to over 1000 printable maths worksheets. This fantastic
program makes it easy on teachers by chatting the students’ progress for them and can be
programmed to the student’s strengths and maths ability level. This website provides a fun and
interactive way to look at math but still learning the curriculum based text.
Book – Estimate! Calculate! Evaluate!
National council of Teachers of Mathematics think that students should be given the opportunity to
use calculators in mathematics classes. This book discusses how calculators are useful tools for
students to focus on problem solving rather than tedious computation, practice validating their
estimation skills and to be able to find patters in mathematics easily. This book is packed with
worksheets that are suitable for middle grade mathematic programs. These worksheets are written for
the purpose of the use of a general calculator. These worksheets teach students how you use the keys
on a calculator and how to use their calculator more effectively.
Movie / Video – MR Fred Hennen
This video demonstrates a way of teaching children through doing school backwards. Firstly student’s
listen to your teacher at home then coming to school and doing your homework. Mr Fred Hennen a
junior high maths teacher has created a method where Mr Hennen uses his smartboard technology,
using screen capture and voice recording to record the lesson. Students are then asked to download
these lessons at home from a special school website and listen to them. Mr Hennen asks them to work
through the understanding of that lesson and think about two questions to ask the next day in class. Mr
Hennen decided to use this new method because he found students were doing easy questions in class
and then getting home to finish the work and they wouldn’t understand the harder problems. (Fred
Hennen. 2011).
References
BSM school math teacher. (2010). teaching math with innovative technology. Retrieved 21/04/2012.
From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlY-hafkOwM
Cambridge University Press. (2011). Cambridge Hotmaths. Retrieved 21/04/2012. From
http://www.hotmaths.com.au/
Julie Herron. (2010). Implementation of Technology in an Elementary Mathematics Lesson. SRATE
Journal . 19(1), 1-29.
Marie Joubert, Alison Clark-Wilson and Michael McCabe. (2011). Enhancing Mathematics Education
Through Technology. In proceedings of The 10th International Conference on Technology in
Mathematics Teaching. (pp.1-109). University of Portsmouth.
Marjorie w. Bloom, Grace K. Galton. (1990). Estimate! Calculate! Evaluate!, New York:
Cuisenaire Company of America.