Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Tackling problems facing technology in math education


This article is important because it is very objective and provides both the positive and negative aspects of trying to incorporate technology in the classroom.  One of the biggest problems in a math classroom is calculator dependency.  The newest graphing calculators have a wide range of functions and graphs that they can perform, solve and draw. Because of this, many teachers fear that their students will depend solely on the calculator instead of sharpening their mathematical knowledge and skills.  The key is figuring out the proper method of teaching in order for students to learn how to use the calculator as a mathematical tool in order to perform higher levels of thinking and work more efficiently instead of just using the calculator as a crutch.
            Another big problem with incorporating technologies into classrooms is the lack of access to different types of technologies.  Most schools cannot afford to provide every student with a laptop or graphing calculator. Therefore students are often required to provide their own forms of technology, which is very difficult in lower income areas.  With these different forms of technology becoming imperative tools in the classroom, schools should be required to have a these technologies available if the students are unable to provide them for themselves.  Because these technologies have to ability to get students more engaged in lessons and learn more efficiently, we as teacher have to be able to come up with different solutions to these problems that could prevent technology from being used in the classroom.

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