Use technology as a tool
Technology provides a unique opportunity to improve student performance in mathematical reasoning and problem solving. When a teacher seeks the appropriate training and learns to use technology effectively, the focus in his or her classroom shifts away from teacher-centered instruction to a learning environment that is more student-centered and flexible. Research suggests that even ten hours of technology training for a teacher can make a positive difference in the performance of his or her students. Still, teachers must control when and how students use technology in the classroom to ensure that it enhances teaching and learning. Software programs that do not actively engage students can result in less learning than for students who do not use the software. In addition, the possibilities for engaging students with physical challenges and other special needs increase dramatically with the use of technology.
Certain computer software offers immediate, personal feedback, as well as privacy, so that students can move at their own pace and either make repeated attempts at the same task, go back to simpler problems, or move swiftly ahead into more difficult subject matter, without becoming discouraged or frustrated. This flexibility often leads to students who are persistent and effective in their problem solving and also willing to risk giving a wrong answer.
A classroom with five or more computers is an ideal environment for student collaboration and group investigations, which have a positive effect on students' attitudes and confidence. The Internet, in particular, is an excellent tool for teachers and students to use to collect data, access information related to mathematics, and communicate with mathematicians as well as other students and teachers. The rapid pace of change in technology is a constant reminder that a teacher needs to be flexible and creative in keeping up with the developments that students will be asked to face in later years.
While there has been some controversy about the use of calculators in elementary school classrooms, there is substantial research indicating that calculators are a tool that supports student performance in mathematics. Studies suggest that students who use calculators have better attitudes towards mathematics, are less anxious about the subject, and perform better in problem-solving situations. Even on tests without calculators, students who are accustomed to using calculators on a daily basis in class have been shown to perform as well as or better than students who have not used calculators in an ongoing way. If their use is carefully prescribed by the teacher, calculators can offer students a simple way to test their ideas and conjectures while avoiding tedious calculations.
A good example of using technology as a tool can be found in the lesson plan Sum of the Interior Angles of a Polygon.
