Mathematics and Technology

In the first episode Judy Chandler touched on the thoughts of mathematics teachers incorporating technology into the classroom. Most teachers find it difficult to embrace technology. It is thought of as an "add on". A lot of teachers focus on simply getting to the end of the book. Technology provides students the opportunity to dive deeper into the subject area. There are many different resources that are available to help students better understand lessons. Technology supports greater understanding of what the students are learning.

In the second episode Judy Chandler talks about "thinking mathematically". Asking the students questions engage the students more than just in a lecture environment. It makes them pay more attention and directs their learning. Involving students in a discussion encourages them to question why things are this way and encourages them to develop an understanding through "thinking mathematically".

I agree with the concept of using technology in teaching mathematics. Immediate feedback lets the student know right away if they are working the problem correctly, and it shows them what they need to fix in order to get the correct answer. Normally, with homework, the students wouldn't know until the next day whether or not they worked those problems correctly. It is too late at that point. They already have a grade on that assignment. Giving the students more examples than just the one or two in the textbook could help them figure out how to work the more difficult problems.

Questioning students and involving them in a discussion is a great way to encourage their understanding of math and encourage students to listen to the teacher's lecture. From experience, when there is a chance that you're going to be called on in class you tend to listen to the teacher because you want to give the correct answer. That pressure is intense, but an understanding teacher wouldn't be intimidating to the student. It is a great idea for a teacher to give her students a chance to ask questions that they need answers to because someone may need help on a concept that the teacher did not focus on during lecture.