Monday, December 9, 2013
Geometry with Technology
Teaching geometry has progressed greatly with
the advancements in technology. The
presence of technology in a geometry classroom has many benefits. Teaching geometry without the use of
technology would not be effective for many students mostly because geometry is
a very visual and hands-on topic in math.
While taking geometry, many students feel overwhelmed and they are
required to memorize what seems like an endless amount of properties, definitions,
shapes, and formulas. If all of this new
information that geometry students have to learn is not presented in ways that
are easily understood, the students will be faced with even more
difficulty. By using different forms of
technology, a teacher is able to visually present information and concepts to
students rather than lecturing the content.
A very useful tool while teaching geometry is a computer program called The
Geometer’s Sketchpad. There are many
things that this program can be used for in the classroom. Students can use this program to create
accurate and precise points, lines, and/or shapes that can be used in homework assignments,
projects, or presentations. Exploration activities can also be assigned where
students are using Sketchpad. Sketchpad
helps students visualize and manipulate many different shapes, theorems,
properties, and relationships in geometry.
While learning a new topic, it is beneficial to many students to be able
to complete activities that are hands-on.
The students will be physically completing tasks that will lead them to
the understanding of certain content.
Online there are many activities students would benefit from because of
the personal exploration of the content as well as the manipulating and visual
presentation. Presenting the information
where the students are using technology will help them understand content as
well as critically think about the content being taught. The growth of technology has enhanced the way
we are able to present information to students, and has become such an
important part of the curriculum.
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Kristin, I completely agree with you. It is very important to use technology in a geometry class. Geometry is a very visual subject and technology helps represent it in many forms. I especially agree on the use of Geometer’s Sketch Pad in a geometry class. I had not heard about this program before college, but there are so many functions available to teach any aspect of geometry. This program also allows students to play around with different concepts and explore. Overall, your post is excellent and demonstrates very effective ways to represent and enable critical thinking for students, which is an important goal as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteFor math especially, technology is a major tool for teaching. I can see it especially in geometry. Geometry is such a visual subject. I remember one geometry teacher that I had who would talk. I could not understand a thing she was saying until she drew it on the board, and gave it an image. I can only imagine what the resources on math programs and online information can do in a classroom. They would help immensely. Great blog!
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