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| From: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/category/tech.html |
There are many math specific software programs out there, three of which were discussed in depth in my Math Technology class. Geometer's Sketchpad, Tinkperplots, and Probability Explorer are the three math specific software programs I would like to focus on.
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| from http://www.tsm-resources.com/tsm-previous/nice06/index.html |
Geometer's Sketchpad is a software that allows students to do a variety of actions that are mainly geometry and algebra based. As found on the software website, Sketchpad gives students a tangible, visual way to learn mathematics that increases their engagement, understanding, and achievement. And it’s not just for geometry. Use it for elementary and middle school math, algebra, pre-calculus, and calculus. The website and software provide many resources for teachers to use, including connection to standards, lesson plans, activities, other websites, support, webinars, and professional development. Sketchpad can be used to help broaden students knowledge and understanding of many math topics and concepts. The program is very visual and hands-on which helps students retain what is being taught/ learned.
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| from: http://www.billpegram.com/ed554/fall06/tinkerplots.html |
Tinkerplots is a software that allows students to graph and organize data in a variety of ways. As found on the software website, TinkerPlots enhances elementary and middle school students' ability to understand and analyze data. The software allows students to investigate data and deepen their understanding of data analysis. Students gain graphing skills, and can explore/organize their graphs according to common measures. With Tinkerplots, students can design and run probability simulations, download data, create dot plots, pie charts, map graphs, histograms, and scatter plots by ordering, stacking, and separating data icons. The software has many great benefits that can be incorporated into any upper elementary through middle school class. TinkerPlots also includes a variety a resources for teachers, parents, and students to utilize.
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| from: http://innovations.oise.utoronto.ca/edtech/index.php/Probability_Explorer |
The final software, Probability Explorer allows students to test the characteristics and properties of probability with computer simulated experiments.
Probability Explorer is a research-based software application that enables users to explore a variety of random phenomena. It is an open-ended learning environment in which users can design and analyze random experiments. The experiments include: Coin toss, Six-sided dice, Marbles in a bag and, Customized experiment involving various pictures and symbols (including marbles, shapes, stick figures etc.). Probability Explorer is very visual and hands-on which helps students with retain the information being taught/ learned.
There are also many interactive websites that provide teachers, parents, and students with games and activities that help students understand various problems and math topics. Below is a list of some excellent websites I found that have amazing games, activities, lesson plans, and resources for teachers, students, and parents.
Illuminations is a website allows the exploration of 106 online activities that help to make math come alive in the classroom or at home. The website also has a collection of 606 lesson for pre-K to 12th grade math educators to use. The website has a link to NCTM's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics which helps align the games, activities, and lessons with math standards. The website also provides other web links that have outstanding math games and lessons as well.
EducationPlace is a website based on the McGraw Hill textbooks. The website isn't specific to math, it also includes the other subjects in the classroom. The website includes lessons, games, activities, and worksheets for teachers to use in their classroom.
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is a website that has activities and games for various math topics for grades pre-K through 12th grade. This is a great resource for in-service as well as pre-service teachers to use as a way to enrich math lessons.
CalculationNation is a website that has games for students to play with other classmates (or against the computer). The website has a login option so that teachers can monitor each student by name, or you can use the guest pass to access the games as well.
Here is a TEDtalks video that illustrates the effect that technology can have on student learning. Kahn Academy has over 2000 videos for students to utilize when learning about various math (and even a few other subjects) concepts and topics.
I hope you have learned something new, and are inspired to go go out on your own to look for ways to incorporate technology into your minor field (or field specialty).
