Lawrence+McCormick

= = Lawrence McCormick I am from Cambridge, MD and a senior at Clemson University studying math and education.

= 1. Thoughts on use of Technology in the Math Classroom =

I believe that technological aids are beneficial in the classroom, but it important to ensure that students do not become dependent on them. Throughout my schooling teachers have used technology in a variety of ways and programs like maple and other specialized software help certain math concepts easier to view and helps with understanding. Throughout my education I have used calculators, maple, geometer's sketchpad, sage, and other technological aids in order to graph, compute, and perform other mathematical tasks.

=2. Online Assessment Tools= media type="custom" key="10374512" align="center"

[|Click Here to Respond]

=3. Reflection= This technology can be beneficial to students because it can allow them to answer questions in class without fear of being ridiculed for incorrect answers. However, it could be troublesome for students who do not have cell phones or are unfamiliar with computers, which would cause issues when it comes to the students responding.
 * What are the benefits and challenges for this technology?**

I am not sure whether or not I will use this technology in the future. It would depend on the atmosphere and thoughts of my class. I would probably propose the idea to my class and if they were excited about the idea, I would try it out. However, if they do not seem enthusiastic I would not use since it would not generate more math enthusiasm for my students.
 * Would you use this technology in your future class? Why?**

=4. Video Recording= [|Watch Video Here] I think videos like this one could be useful in my classroom. If a student misses a certain day then providing them with a link for a cite that goes over the material could be very beneficial to them to catch them up with the class. Also if a student feels behind or is having troubles with a section then watching one of these videos could show them a different way of looking at it and help them learn the material.

=5. Microsoft Math 4.0=



1) I am not sure if I will use Microsoft Math in my classroom, but I do plan to use a program similar to it. Depending on the type of computers at the school and the programs offered I plan to use a program similar with Microsoft Math with my students to explore certain concepts. I think having a program like Microsoft Math is important is some classes like algebra and calculus for when students are being introduced to new types or styles of graphs. These programs can make those graphs more than just an equation by showing the students a visual example.

2) I would recommend this software for students because it combines the ease of a calculator but includes more advanced capabilities like Matlab. It is also pretty user friendly with a lot of the commands provided to the user in words so they do not have to look up the language of the program in order to perform computations. This program is also beneficial because it can show students the various processes they can take to solve a problem and how these process are connected.

3) I think this software can help some students to make connections between different math concepts and ideas. I think this software could have been useful for some classes that I have taken in order to help me connect graphing equations and systems of equations and then solving them.

=6. Smart Board Math Tools=

Click here for lesson.

Standard Addressed: - EA-2.9: Carry out a procedure to perform operations with matrices (including addition, subtraction, and scalar multiplication).

This lesson activity is a 10-problem question set that assesses a students knowledge of matrices and their ability to add and scalar multiply matrices.

This lesson activity does not incorporate any of the Smart Board math tools, but it does provide teachers with a useful resource. With activities like this one, teachers can assess their students ability in a topic before the section with a question set like this or after the lesson is taught in order to assess students understanding of the concept.

The lesson activity is very different from Microsoft Math 4.0 because it is more presentation and lecture based, compared to Microsoft Math 4.0 which is useful for making computations or displaying graphs. Microsoft Math 4.0 is more of an aide during a lesson, and Smart Exchange lessons and activities can play more of a "backbone" role in a lesson.

A major issue in students' learning is absent days. Very few students gain "perfect attendance" throughout a school year, and those students who do miss days miss out on important classes. Students are involved in numerous athletics and club that results in some absence from class, as does illness. Especially in math class, students can fall behind by missing only one period, and then struggle to catch back up and fall further behind.

With technology like Smart Board Exchange, Microsoft Math 2.0, Khanacademy.org, and other technological resources available today, students have multiples modes of access to review and catch up on missed on difficult concepts from class. Technology should be used to help advance a students learning inside and outside of the classroom, but it is always important to ensure students do not become dependent on their calculators for simple tasks.

=7. GeoGebra and Geometers Sketch Pad=

I think dynamic mathematics environments are great for student learning. By being able to manipulate a worksheet like the one I made in GeoGebra allows students to explore a topic at their own speed and review it until they understand it. Dynamic math tasks or worksheets can help students learn on their own as well as explore areas that they struggle in at their own pace. Also the extra element technology adds to mathematics can allow students to gain a deeper understanding of what they are learning.
 * What do you think of dynamic mathematics environment? Do they contribute to students' learning? How?**

After my experiences, I have found to prefer GSP when it comes to geometry concepts and ideas. This preference is due to the fact that I was exposed to GSP first and learned how to use it pretty well. However, for tasks that involve algebra, statistical analysis, or other areas of math other than geometry I believe that GeoGebra is a better tool and also has the advantage of being free.
 * Compare GeoGebra with GSP regarding your experiences. Be specific with examples, tools, and design features both have.**