Technology in the Classroom 

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Technology has become a large part of our current society. The accessibility to the online world and sharing of knowledge has both positive and negative aspects. Because of the changes and advancements in technology, technology is a useful tool in 21^st century education.

As a university student, it is convenient to Google or watch a YouTube video to explain a confusing concept from lecture.   I believe that having all of these resources easily available can greatly enhance student learning as knowledge can be captured and transferred quickly.

As discussed in Chapter 1 of Interweaving Curriculum and Classroom Assessment, technology is a tool to engage and enhance learning. It also has the ability to personalize learning for each unique student. 

As a future math teacher, it was interesting to read the article Technology and Mathematics in the Classroom,which discussed the benefits of using interactive white boards in the classroom while teaching math. This type of technology can provide visualization for math concepts that allow students to engage in the learning process. For some students, seeing an equation on paper may not make sense to them. Interactive white boards can allow teachers to provide more visual methods of explaining the concepts.When I was in a grade 10 math classroom during an observation placement last year, the teacher was using the SMART board to teach a lesson in quadratic graphing. Students in the class were able to come up to the SMART board and plot their graphs to visualize the transformations that were occurring. They could then compare the numerical equation to the graphical representation of several graphs to explore the properties of quadratic transformations. This visualization provided an alternative method of teaching the topic of transformations to these students.

Khan academy is another great example of how technology can be used in high school math classrooms. Khan academy offers YouTube videos and practice exercises to students on a variety of subjects. The video below illustrates how Khan academy is being used in a math classroom in Oakland, CA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAvWvP7jvRI

One of the most important ideas I believe the teacher in the video mentioned was that technology allows differentiated learning to occur in his classroom. As in many subjects, some students may struggle with different concepts within the math curriculum. The way that Khan is implemented in this classroom allows students to work individually on problems. When they need extra help, they can ask for a hint or watch an example video. This provides instant assistance and feedback for the students. The teacher can then monitor their progress and adjust instruction accordingly. Using Khan academy in the classroom would benefit both the student who are struggling with math and provide more challenging questions for students who are excelling. It was interesting to learn that in this particular class the teacher found students were doing more practice problems, staying more engaged during class and receiving higher test scores in comparison to prior traditional teaching methods.

With classes potentially having 30+ students, it would be challenging to incorporate differentiated learning for each student with a traditional teaching method. As stated in the article Inclusion in the 21stCentury Classroom: Differentiating with Technology, many of the obstacles of differentiation can be overcome with the use of technology. 

As a future educator I plan to incorporate some forms technology into my classroom.

Thanks for reading! 

Laura :)

Bruce, C. (2012). Harnessing the Learning Potential of Interactive Whiteboards. Technology in the Mathematics Classroom. Retrieved September 20, 2015, from https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/WW_technology.pdf

Hobgood, B., & Ormsby, L. (n.d.). 7 Inclusion in the 21st-century classroom: Differentiating with technology. Retrieved September 20, 2015, from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/every-learner/6776

Drake, S. M., Reid, J. L., & Kolohon, W. (2014). Interweaving Curriculum and Classroom Assessment: Engaging the 21^st Century Learner. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.