Tech tools for Mathematics Classrooms

This blog is written for my contribution to posts written by Top Global Bloggers every month.

This month's question is tech tools which worked or did not work in past few years.

Joined teaching profession in 1994 with a mission of improving learning of Mathematics by innovating new ways of delivering content to students, in accordance to their learning abilities. My aim as a Math teacher is to make Mathematics accessible to all, encourage students to have passion for learning the subject and create joyful independent learning environments. I think it is the way in which the subject is introduced to students which makes a difference. Joined Kulachi Hansraj Model School, Delhi, India as a Mathematics teacher in 1995. After teaching for few years I realized two things. There is so much which is still to be learned and there is no standard method of teaching. Each day a new challenge randomly comes forward. For overcoming there is a need to explore, learn and change. Many restrictions exist in traditional teaching ways, the most predominant of which is time. Mostly it is not feasible to repeat a topic. When a student is not present in the classroom for any reason, the whole lesson cannot be taught individually. When queries of students are not answered at the right time it results in disinterest in the subject. Specifically in a subject like Mathematics there is a less scope of visualization of a concept which leads to disinterest in the subject. In a usual Math lab class, half of the time is used in dictating the activity steps to be performed by students. The remaining time is not sufficient for students to perform the activity.

Moreover there is no connectivity after school hours and during vacations. Students of today’s generation are digital-natives, coined as tech savvies. They get easily distracted and it is difficult to hold their attention while teaching. To captivate the attention of students is the biggest challenge. Teaching methods affect the cognitive system to a major extent. Teaching Mathematics involves development of various skills like analytical thinking, arithmetic solving & logical reasoning. Effective quality content is required in the classrooms to prepare the students to face today’s competitive world.

My journey from a teacher to an e teacher would highlight explorations, experiments and effective strategies utilized in teaching and learning of Mathematics to secondary classes using web based and offline e-tools, software and other gadgets.

Using Blog

What initiated me to start a blog for teaching Mathematics?

Mathematics is generally taught with traditional chalk and talk approach. This creates disinterest in students towards learning of subject. Planet infinity in our school is a place where the students visit for practicing hands on experiment of the abstract concepts which are learned in the classroom.  Many a times half of the period got wasted in dictating the procedure of the activity. This was bothering me very much .I was searching for something which could solve this problem of mine and the students can actually utilize their time in doing the hands on activities in the Mathematics laboratory. The blog has been set up as an e Mathematics laboratory which the students are using with anytime anywhere flexibility. It is used for posting Mathematics activities instruction with the pictures explaining the procedure, links of useful websites/other resources, recreational mathematics resources like making magic squares, games and puzzles, Mathematics project ideas, Vedic mathematics shortcut techniques videos, work done by the students during the vacations,  creative writings/poems etc. in mathematics by the students.

blog http://mykhmsmathclass.blogspot.com

Before setting the class blog, in the dawn of year 2006, I started with a blog for teachers “Mathematics Learning- Sharing strategies of teaching learning” http://mathematicslearning.blogspot.in .

Connectivity during summer vacations...

Students were to make mathematics projects as per their final examination requirement. Although we were in contact, through e mail, but I was facing a problem in answering each one of them because of the number. There were more than 500 students. So, I started posting project ideas on the blog. It really worked as a magic wand. The students were able to view each other’s work also. This acted as a source of motivation for all of them to do better work than others.  It helped me not only saving my time and energy but also inculcated in students a habit of using this platform as their regular feature.

Channel Aaj Tak team visited our school and interviewed class students about their experiences of learning Mathematics through class blog and its benefits. The concept of blogging in education has brought up a new revolution. Students shared their views on how they learn Mathematics 24x7 with enjoyment through blog.

GeoGebra

In a traditional classroom the students are required to learn various geometry based theorems on circles, triangles and many other topics. The students were showing their disinterest in learning theoretical proofs. Due to this they did not perform well in their unit examination. In the process, I had to look for a strategy to inculcate their interest in geometry. I started using a dynamic Mathematics Software that integrates Geometry, Algebra (GeoGebra) and Calculus called GeoGebra. It has elements of Dynamic Geometry Software (DGS) and Computer Algebra Systems (CAS). It runs on any platform that supports Java. It is free open source Mathematics software and is easily downloadable. For downloading it click on www.geogebra.org.

Potential of GeoGebra is incredible.  We did lots of experiments and explored geometry in a new way. I remember one incident; a group project was allotted to students in which they were given various topics to be explored using the software. One student came to me for enquiring some observations made by their group members. He said ma’am when we plot a pair of linear equations in two variables we get a pair of intersecting lines when a1/a2 is not equal to b1/b2. What is the condition for getting point of intersection always on the x- axis? What is the condition for getting point of intersection always on the y- axis? Actually he had done some experiments on GeoGebra and he wanted to verify whether he is right or wrong. He was very excited in sharing those files with me.

Creating instructional photo story lessons: Children perform various hands on activities in Mathematics laboratory. More than half of the time get wasted in dictating the steps of procedure. Photo story lessons proved beneficial in saving time and demonstrating the activity to be done in a creative manner. It also helped in creating interest in the subject. For creating photo story lesson pictures are clicked using a camera or a mobile and then using Microsoft Photostory 3 Software, photo story lessons are creating by adding voice, music etc.
Sample Click here

Creating online assessments: In classroom students learn concepts by listening to teacher. When they go back home they require a lot of practice material for formative assessments. Technology has played a very vital role in helping teachers for creating assessment sheets in the form of MCQ’s, Fill in the blanks, True/False etc. Using Google docs one can easily create such worksheet and administer the tests in classrooms. These tests can be embedded in a blog or website. Assessment material once created can be reused in future, thus saving time and energy of a teacher.

List of tools/software

Open Source Software for creating resources:

1. GeoGebra for Mathematics
2. Eclipse Crossword for creating crosswords
3. Formulator Tarsia for making jigsaw puzzles
4. Freemind for mind mapping

Online tools

1. Google Apps- Docs, Slides, Sheets, G+, YouTube, Google Hangout
2. Twitter
3. Wordle.net
4. Illuminations
5. Interactive websites.    

Technology has proved its potential to cater to the needs of all types of learners. It is with the advent of new tools; not only students are able to understand a concept but at the same time they are able to expand their knowledge. Students who do not ask questions in classroom post queries on blog/network. This way they are able to understand the concepts with ease. By watching video tutorials of difficult concepts and learning through e lessons, students can understand concepts at their own pace.Technology has solved the drudgery of repetition in the classroom. Technology added a new dimension of interactivity in the classrooms which helped students in learning abstract concepts. For graphical analysis, there is a need to draw a series of graph for minute change in values. In one teaching period, it is a very difficult task. But after using open source software GeoGebra, it was made possible by few clicks of a mouse. Students explored all types of equations, investigated graphs and applied the knowledge to daily life situations. Students find difficulty in understanding 3 dimensional concepts. With animations of 3D concepts, doubts of the students get clarified at the right time. By collaborating on the Social network (e Mathematics); students get a chance to get connected to each other and with the teacher. In the query section they can post their queries anytime and get the answers by the teacher. This has enhanced students understanding of concepts. The whole idea is Learner centric catering to needs of all students type average/mediocre/higher achiever. The process has encouraged learners to be a part of teaching learning process till the end. It has helped in inculcating interest in the learners towards Mathematics. Web based networks have enhanced writing competencies and solving skills of students. Through this strategy lots of opportunities for self expressions and ideas have been generated. There is a scope for consistent analysis for improvement. Collaborative learning environments helped in improving behavioral and social aspects too. Visualization of concepts becomes possible using videos, animations picturesque Mathematics lessons etc. Anytime, anywhere flexibility has expanded the boundaries of classroom. This approach has enabled the expertise & knowledge a creative teacher to reach maximum learners, anytime-anywhere. I am glad to share that my classroom is now e classroom 24x7. We are learning and exploring Mathematics even after school hours. For all the chapters of classes 9 and 10 Mathematics, e lessons have been prepared which the students are using according to the need. Blogs/Wikis/Social Networks have added a new dimension to education.