Advantages of Integrating Technology
Integrating technology has become one of the most used strategies in school systems. Technology is one of the most influential aspects of society whether that be for the best or the worst. The authors of Integrating Technology into Teaching say, "Although the current emphasis in mathematics instruction is on higher order mathematical skills, students often need more resources to support the practice of basic skills." These technologies such as Math XL help students understand math so much more than teachers, parents, and students ever thought possible.
Disadvantages of Technologies
Though having technology in the classroom has many positive aspects there are some things about technology that can have a negative effect on students. One example would be not always being able to monitor what they are doing on their device, especially if the students in your class are involved in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). It's nice that they would be responsible for their own device, but there is always a possibility that they could be looking at other things. One online resource you can use is Haiku Deck during instruction time. This is a presentation creator that will keep student continuously engaged.
Specific Activities, Program, Etc.
There are several resources that might be useful to use in the classroom when discussing mathematics. A great tool that is being used in the classroom is robotics. "Robotics curriculum has become an increasingly popular strategy for engaging students in problem solving and getting them interested in engineering principles and careers." (Roblyer. 2016.) Students love being hand-on and actually investigating things not just sitting and listening to us talk. They want to be involved in the learning process and this does exactly that; it helps students teach themselves.
You are so right in saying that the students need to be the ones investigating and having them involved in the learning process more than just sitting and listening to us talk! By using virtual manipulatives, you are allowing the students to be in control of the learning and integrating technology into math. ( Roblyer, 2016) Roblyer also states that, "virtual manipulatives have positive impact on both attitudes towards mathematics and student achievement." Great job on the blog, Emileigh!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely correct about the BYOD in the classroom. I am not a fan of it mostly for the reason that if students are given permission to use the phones in the classroom, they will likely take advantage of that and not do what they are asked. I am all for integrating technology, but only if teachers lay down the law for the students about what it is being used for.
ReplyDeleteI was actually apart of the robotics team at Oak Mountain High School!(total nerd moment)Roblyer(2016) is exactly correct about how robotics works with problem solving and engineering principles. A majority of the work students are having to do when working with robotics is finding problems and coming up with different ways to solve them or at least maintain them for the time being!