This site is about helping children learn mathematics. We all have ideas of what the best path is to student understanding of mathematics. Teach from the textbook, assign worksheets, & give homework every night is one of these routes. Others see it differently: they feel that cooperative learning, frequent use of manipulatives, and/or journal writing may be the best methods of promoting student understanding of mathematics.
While I have walked, and will continue to walk, both of these paths, I believe that there are new avenues to explore to help children learn mathematics. Using certain forms of digital media to enhance student understanding of mathematics is a road less traveled by mathematics teachers. Sure, lots of teachers use computers to teach math. Some have kids learning their multiplication facts using fancy software and others teach their students algebraic concepts through virtual manipulatives. But how many are using blogs or digital images or discussion forums or even spreadsheets? I am, and this site, along with my blog, is a record of my journey to find out what the best uses for these tools are.
So why take the road less traveled? Here are two important points to consider.
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Important Point 1: Technology has a profound influence on today's youth. Some have even identified the current generation as the "Net-Generation" (Tapscott, 1998) because they are the first generation to grow up surrounded by digital media. Computers can be found in the home, school, and factory, and digital technologies such as cameras are commonplace. These new media are increasingly connected by the Internet (p.1).
Important Point 2: We are currently undergoing a revolution in the way math is taught. The emphasis has shifted from teaching rules and procedures to helping students create their own understanding of the mathematics they are learning. To do this, students must be active and engaged, reasoning through problems, justifying answers, and communicating their understanding to others.
This revolution began in 1989 with the introduction of the NCTM's The Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics. This report offers standards that should be used in K-12 classrooms. Four theme standards-communication, problem-solving, reasoning, & connections--will be the focus of this site.
With a generation surrounded by digital media and a new vision for teaching mathematics, classroom instruction must evolve to meet the needs of today's students. Many of the new web-based technologies allow for a type of learning known as social constructivism, which asserts that the creation of products for others to experience leads to increased learning. In the case of mathematics, products such as blog entries and discussion forum posts are not only meant to be shared with others, they also require a classroom environment that supports the four theme standards.
About the Creator
This
site is maintained by Jamie
Tubbs, a sixth year math teacher at Wyoming Middle School in Wyoming,
Ohio. Check out his blog at:
Presentations & Workshops
"Creating a Simple Web Page for Your Classroom", 1-hr Lecture, Ohio Middle School Association Conference, May, 2002.
"Inspirational Web Pages", 2-hr Hands-On Session, Southwest Ohio Instructional Technology Association (SOITA) Conference, December, 2003.
"Digicams, Weblogs, & Discussion Forums: Cutting-Edge Technology for Your Classroom", 1-hr Lecture, SOITA Conference, December, 2004.
"Weblogs in the Mathematics Classroom", 1-hr Lecture, Ohio SchoolNet State Technology Conference, February, 2005.
"Weblogs in the Classroom", 8-hr Hands-On Workshop, Middie Academy of Technology, June, 2005.
Upcoming Presentations
"Visual Classroom: Using Digital Images in Your Classroom", 1.5-hr Hands-On Workshop, OCTM Conference, October, 2005
"Using Weblogs to Enhance Learning", 1.5-hr Hands-On Workshop, OCTM Conference, October, 2005.
Highlights - Future of Math Website
Featured in Connected Classroom Newlsetter's A+ Web Gallery, May, 2005
Resources
Tapscott, Don. Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998. (http://www.growingupdigital.com/)
Van de Walle, John. Elementary & Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally . Little Rock, Arkansas: Pearson, Allyn, & Bacon, 1998.
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Future of Math © 2004 Jamie
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