How Can Technology Improve Mathematics Instruction?

Last week, our Math 371 class, Technology for STEM Educators, examined the appropriate use of technology in teaching.  But what does that mean?

• Don’t use technology just for the sake of using technology. An example that I gave of that is using an iPad to roll a pair of dice when you could just have students roll physical dice. There are definitely advantages to using technology for this, as have 30 students rolling dice in your classroom would be noisy. But does the technology enhance the experience, and I would say that it doesn’t.
• Technology should help students with their understanding of the material. Now when we say technology, do we mean it has to be electronic? I would argue that manipulatives could be considered technology. In this case, something like algebra tiles can help students understand factoring better so that would be an example of an appropriate use of technology.  If you don’t have a set of algebra tiles for your classroom, you can use them online at https://polypad.amplify.com/p#algebra-tiles.
• Technology should help both the student and teacher work more efficiently and effectively.  An example of this would be using Desmos or Geogebra to graph a parent function and translations of that parent function.  Typically, in algebra we often graph y = x^2 and then we ask students to graph y = (x - 3)^2 or y = x^2 + 3 Using online graphing tools allows us to graph these functions more quickly and easily see the changes that occur.
• Technology shouldn’t have a steep learning curve. Some technologies are hard to learn to use. One that comes to mind immediately is the TI-Nspire calculator. This calculator is very powerful, but it isn’t user-friendly, making it more challenging for both students and teachers to use. This is why I prefer Desmos when it comes to graphing in mathematics.
• Technology should provide feedback to students and teachers. One technology that I have been using in my geometry course is FullProof. It is an online software for writing two-column proofs in geometry. I have used it for the past four years and it is wonderful. Students can ask for hints if they are stuck, and they can also check their solution immediately and get feedback. The teacher can get a report on how many times a student asked for hints on a problem and how many times they submitted it.

While technology can be wonderful, we need to be thoughtful about using it in our classrooms. We want technology to enhance learning, not hinder it, and we don’t want it to be a distraction.