Using Technology in Secondary
Mathematics
INSTRUCTOR(S): Mike Tamblyn,
Whitewater School District,
Whitewater, WI
GRADE LEVEL: 8-13
SUBJECT: Mathematics
Come learn how to transform your
classroom to one that uses
technology to entice students and
really help them understand
mathematics.
Technology encourages the process of
discovery in which students first
visualize and analyze a problem,
then follow conjectures before
attempting a proof. This
course will focus on technology,
such as Geometer's Sketchpad,
SmartBoards, TI Smart View and
graphing calculators. Teachers
will work hands-on with each of
these technological tools an create
ready to use classroom materials.
The Geometer's Sketchpad version 5
is a powerful software program for
both Macintosh and Windows based
computers. The software can be
used for daily activities designed
for students to discover
mathematical concepts rather than
having a teacher tell them about the
concepts. Students will be
able to do real mathematics,
discover ,properties, make and test
conjectures, and apply technology to
higher-level mathematics.
Students will be able to produce
significant projects using this
software.
The Smart Board is a powerful tool
to be used in the classroom.
It is a touch sensitive screen in
the front f the room where the user
can manipulate any software they
use. TI Smart View is an
emulator of the TI84 that shows the
entire calculator so the kids can
see what buttons you push. In
the same window, it shows the
calculator, the graph, the table,
the window, the y=screen, the home
screen, and the sequence of buttons
pushed. Virtual TI 89 is free
software that emulates a TI 89 on
your computer. It has a
computer algebra system that allows
students to perform high-level
mathematics with ease.
Technology allows students to
dynamically drag a figure and
examine properties for an entire set
of similar cases in a matter of
seconds. Technology affords
students the ability to construct
difficult mathematical relationships
that would be impossible with paper
and pencil.
Both beginners and advanced users of
these technologies will learn new
ways to integrate it into their
classes. Both the Wisconsin
Model Academic Standards and NCTM's
Principles and Standards encourage
the use of dynamic mathematics
software.
Wisconsin Teacher Standards
Addressed: 1,4,7,8,10
Wisconsin Academic Standards
Addressed: Mathematics A-F
