Math 371 Technology for STEM Educators

             I remember back in the days of my elementary education occasionally using computers that had a cathode ray tube monitor to play educational math games. There were games that involved representing fractions and identifying geometric shapes. We were allowed to play these fun games during recess if we would like, or occasionally they were part of an assignment. Throughout current classrooms, whether it be an elementary classroom, an 8 th grade intro to algebra class, geometry, or even Calculus classrooms, these games and interactive applications are becoming a more popular tool. This has several students, teachers, and parents posing the following question. Are these games and applications a useful learning tool, or are they a dangerous crutch with the false perception of educational value? A strong argument can be made for both sides, but the fact of the matter is there are far too many variables to consider for a blanket case of both. To a...

            Throughout high school classrooms, technology is being integrated more and more. In my education classes, we are learning about the do’s and don’ts of technology. The main point that I have taken away from this Technology for Math Educators course is that you need to make the technology you use in your classroom actually useful.             Although technology can be a “fun” thing for your students to use in your classroom, if it is not challenging them, they will eventually just get bored. As a teacher, you need to incorporate technology that will be useful in your classroom. During our class time in this course, we have been assigned to teach about different mathematical apps that could potentially be used for our classrooms. Before taking this class, I might have said that it would be an okay idea to use most of them in my classroom. However, when I took a step...

              Many teachers are experimenting with the idea of flipped classrooms. Studies show that this type of structure causes more help to the students than harm. I have mixed feelings about flipped instruction but exploring new methods are important, especially when they hold proof of being beneficial to students. Flipped instruction is basically the opposite of the traditional lecture style of teaching. The lecture portion is done outside of class and the activities and homework are completed in class.               I have some concerns about flipped instruction but overall think it is a step in the right direction. Many educators assume that every student has access to technology outside of the school setting. While this is true for most students, there are still some without access. Having flipped instruction would make it difficult for these students to watch lectures or oth...