Tech4Teachers.info

While I think language arts might be the best fit for blogging in the classroom, I discovered several math blogs that prove that it is just as useful for discussing approaches and solutions to math problems. Some of the examples I came across looked like they incorporated scanned images of pencil & paper versions of math problems. These were presented to students as open-ended questions. I also saw one student using photobucket to display her example for multiplying fractions. Very interesting to say the least.

The first example I’m providing showcases Chris Harbeck’s approach to blogging in math class. Some of the features include:

• Growing post hall of fame
• A section entitled “Why we blog”
• Blogging assignments section
• Contributors

It’s really an awesome site. To view Chris’ former blogspot, click HERE.

To check out his current site, click HERE.

This second example comes from Mr. Reece’s 7th grade math class. What’s notable about this is that the reactions and comments to a problem posted at the blog can get pretty lengthy. Both the previous examples and Mr. Reece’s blog both come from Sargent Park School in Winnipeg, Canada.

To check out Mr. Reece’s blog, click HERE.

Finally, I came across a math teacher’s blog that included something new to me. The notes that were originally given via PowerPoint in class were posted at the blog through something called BubbleShare. It’s really a photo sharing site but this teacher was able to utilize it for PowerPoint presentations. I also thought it was noteworthy that the teacher posted extra-credit assignments at the blog.

To view this example, click HERE.

After having collected lots of examples that show how teachers are using technology in their classrooms, I’ve come to the conclusion that some technologies are more easily adapted to one subject more than another. It’s not that any technology can’t be adapted to any subject, it’s just that some work better than others. When I think of clickers, I think that I would love to use these devices in math class. While math class emphasizes process a great deal, it is also very answer driven. That being said, a good starting off point in a typical math class might be to give some problems for the students to solve, or perhaps talk about ways to solve them. After the problems have been solved, distribute the clickers to assess.

The teacher shown in this first video approaches math class in much the same way. While she demonstrates her use of a whiteboard, she also uses the clickers to assess. Take a look…

This next video comes from a math teacher from St. Mary School in Edmonton. This is a very thorough demonstration of how one particular type of clicker is used as well as how it can be applied to a math setting. It serves as both an introduction to the tool and something specific to math teachers.

While you might think that digital video would be difficult to integrate into math class, these videos will make you think otherwise. When considering this approach, keep this in mind: You don’t know it until you teach it. Video offers math students a way to record themselves demonstrating their knowledge so that others can benefit from it. This takes their understanding to a higher level. As teachers, this is what our goal is…isn’t it?

This first example highlights four math students explaining a word problem that has to do with interior and exterior angles in a heptagon.

One thing that is universal among all content areas is that students always want to know how what you are teaching applies to real life. This was perhaps what started the everyday math movement. This next video demonstrates how geometry is connected with football. The audio is a little bit difficult to hear at times due to wind noise, but the concept is great.

Regardless of what technology we are incorporating into our teaching practices, the goal should always be that of having students take what they have done and then take it to another level. This can be done using a variety of tools, including podcasting. When first setting out to look for examples of how podcasting is used in math class, I was a little concerned. Don’t we need to see the numbers and formulas? How could this be represented by audio? Nonetheless, I found some interesting examples of how students synthesize and summarize what they’ve done using podcasts. In addition, a came across a podcast that discusses the importance of math in various fields. This might be useful for convincing the reluctant student to start applying him or herself in class.

The following example come from Rashmi Kathuria, a math teacher in Delhi, India. She has other podcasting projects posted at her site HERE.

• Utility of Math in Varioius Fields

This next example comes from Ms. Blake’s math class at Jamestown Elementary in Arlington, VA. She had her students create and record their own math story problem podcast. I thought it was an awesome way to use podcasting. When you are ready, click the play button below.

To listen to the podcast, click HERE.

Here’s a little history of geometry HERE.

Students these days are so used to being able to interact with information. It helps the information become part of them and it keeps them engaged. This can be particularly helpful in a subject like math. The video you’ll see next showcases Angela McNeil’s use of Promethean’s version of the interactive Whiteboard. I wish those things were around when I was a kid!

To see how a Whiteboard can be used in math class, click HERE.

This next teacher spotlight shows how life can be infused into the Pythagorean Theorem using a little help from an Interactive Whiteboard. Click HERE to watch the video.

This last example features a kindergarten teacher utilizing a whiteboard to demonstrate addition and comparing sums. She uses a dice program that is one of the many programs that has been created specifically for the whiteboard used in the video. Talk about visual!!!