End of Class Summary

This class helped me a lot with writing lesson plans. I did not have to much experience with creating lesson plans before this class. I think that the technology that I learned the most about was using Geometer's Sketch Pad and SmartBoard. I had never used either of these before so I was very interested in learning to use these. I think that I will definitely make use of GSP if it is available. It is a very useful tool for teaching. I also think that SmartBoard would be beneficial to have because it is very interactive. Students will enjoy being able to use it and want to participate in class.
I do not think that my view of technology has necessarily changed as a result of this course. I have always been interested in using technology to enhance students' learning experiences. However, I do think that this course has helped to make me aware of the vast number of sources and materials that are available to teachers. I do think that to be a successful teacher I will need to keep myself current and knowledgeable of the available technologies. As you pointed out, we need to know what programs are on our students calculators so that we know if we are testing their knowledge of the material or their ability to use their calculator programs.

Dynamic Geometry Software Article Reflection

Pitfall: "Visualization always makes easier"

I agree with what Michael de Villiers wrote in this section. Just because the software helps the students to visualize the concepts does not necessarily mean that it makes learning geometry easier. For some students the use of computers could be a major distraction from what they are trying to learn. They get caught up in using the different colors and making things look nice instead of focusing on the geometry that is involved. Also, if students only learn how to do the constructions using the software and do not understand them otherwise, they will not do well when they have to do the same constructions without the use of the software.

If I was teaching geometry, I would first teach my students using traditional "paper and pencil" techniques. I could use software for demonstrations and examples at first. But, I would not allow the students to begin using the software on their own until they had a better grasp on the material. This way it would be used as an extension and verification of what they had already learned.

Will technology force job cuts?

While I do see the benefits that would come from replacing mediocre teachers, I do not think that mathematics teachers will be replaced by technology anytime soon. Having an excellent teacher give a great lesson on a video recording would be great for the students. But, what if the students had questions? Sometimes students need to hear the same topic discussed multiple ways before they understand it. If if is a pre-recorded lesson and the classroom proctor is unfamiliar with the topic, then the students will not be able to ask their questions.
In order to ensure that I am not replaced by technology, I will need to be able to do what the technology can not. I will need to interact with my students and use various methods to teach topics so that they will have the opportunity to succeed in mathematics. Ultimately, I will do whatever is in the best interest of the students. So, if that means that somedays I will have the class watch a lesson on video instead of personally teaching the lesson myself, then that is what I will do.

My Experience with Technology in the Classroom

I took Calc III at Siena with Dr. Rousseau. Many of the topics discussed in this class were abstract ideas. During lectures it was sometimes difficult to visualize what was being discussed. Sketching objects by hand did not always help because of their inaccuracy.

However, Dr. Rousseau would use Mathematica which was a program on the computers at Siena. The computer screen was able to be displayed on a screen at the front of the room. Being able to see what Dr. Rousseau was talking about while he was discussing it made the concepts easier to understand.

All of the students were also able to use Mathematica on our own during labs. This helped us to explore the concepts on our own or with the help of a partner. By experimenting with all the different aspects of a given topic we were able to have a deeper understanding of it.

I'm a math teacher so why do I need to know how to blog?

I'm a math teacher so why do I need to know how to blog? I think that knowing how to blog could prove to be very useful for a mathematics teacher. Our society is becoming more and more dependent on technology. Understanding how to make use of this technology could enhance the learning experience for the students, parents and the teachers.


One way that knowing how to blog could enhance the learning experience is that it could open up lines of communication between the teachers, parents and students. Parents would be able to see what their child is doing in class. They could help their sons/daughters keep track of when homework assignments or projects are due and when tests or quizzes are approaching. Also, students would be able to ask for help on problems that they were having difficulty with. The help can be given to them by either the teacher or other students within the class.

While it sounds as if blogs could help to create a better learning environment, there are some problems that could arise. One such problem that could exist, is that some students may not have access to the internet at home. This problem would most likely be more prevalent in higher needs or inner city schools. If not all of your students have use of the internet at home, it would be unfair to those students to post assignments and other tasks online.

Overall, I think that given the right circumstances and the correct usage, blogs could become a very useful resource to mathematics teachers.