The Geometer's Sketchpad

Today technology is a huge part of every students life, so why not use it in the classroom? Using technology in a classroom can enhance a students learning on a weekly basis. As a future mathematics teacher I think that technology can further help a student’s understanding on a topic, when used correctly.   

One example of a piece of technology that can be used in a Geometry classroom is The Geometer's Sketchpad. The Geometer's Sketchpad is a computer program that allows you to do many things relating to geometrical ideas. For example you can find areas, perimeters, angles measures, and much more. With this program you can allow students to experiment with different geometry theorems and they can see what happens when you change one aspect of it. This program can also help students try and prove theorems. 

Using this program in a classroom will help students who learn from visual settings because it allows you to physically see how theorems work. It will prove to students that the theorems written in their textbooks are actually true. This program can also be used for students to create figures and practice solving for area. They can do this by creating a figure on the sketchpad and then solve it on paper. Once they solve this they can use the program to solve for the area and the student will be able to see if their answer matches what the program gave as the answer. 

I like this program because it does not automatically find answers for you. Students need to first know how to set up a problem that they are trying to solve by creating it on the sketchpad. Then they need to figure out what the problem is looking for before they ask the program to solve for it. This program helps students think critically about problems because instead of the teacher giving a picture along with a problem the students can use the sketchpad to experiment with different approaches to a problem. Students can then pick the method that works best for them and use that method in the future. This program makes it easy for students to start over and try many methods because things can be undone and redone if a mistake was made. 

When using technology in a classroom teachers need to make sure that their students do not become dependent on these technologies to solve problems for them. I think that students should first understand a concept completely on paper before they are given a calculator or other piece of technology to further their understanding. Students should first know the basics before they move further. For example if a student is given a calculator before they memorized their multiplication facts they may never learn them on their own because the calculator will always be there to compute the problems for them. 

Technology Autobiography

The three most important influential communications technologies in my life up to this point are my cell phone, laptop, and the ability to video chat. These devices play a huge role in my daily life, so much that I cannot imagine myself functioning without them. My cell phone is the most influential piece of technology in my life, it is there for me to always stay in contact with family and friends on the spot. My cell phone also allows me to easily access the web to search a piece of information when I do not have access to my laptop or computer. Another thing that I use my cell phone almost every day is its ability to turn into a GPS. Besides the three things I listed my cell phone does much more, from helping me stay organized to allowing me to stay up to date with current news events. My laptop is also a major technology in my everyday life. I use my laptop for mainly academic purposes, such as writing papers, blogging, checking my email, and much more in the academic world. If I did not have my personal laptop it would be much harder for me to get my work done since I would not have access to the internet or word documents at my home. Video chatting is the third most influential piece of communications technology in my life. I video chat with my brother ofter since he is away at school six hours from us. I like to video chat with him so that we can see each other and it feels more real than just talking on the phone. 

These three technologies help me learn new information everyday right on the spot. For example with my cell phone I can search the web, call or text someone, and read books or magazines. My laptop takes finding out new information even further because I have access to everything I can possibly think of. I can search the web and read detailed journals or documents. I can check my email to find out if there is any changes to a course. I can also video chat from both my laptop or my phone.   

These three technologies are not always as good as they seem. I think as a young adult in this world full of new technologies we become quite reliant on them. For example during Hurricane Sandy, my house lost power for 10 days. Durning those 10 days I did not have any form of communications technology available to me. I felt lost in some way almost as if I did not know how to function. I need to learn how to function incase the technology I plan to use that day fails on me. I need to always have a back up plan to allow me to learn new information.   

In the video, Alan made a great point. He said that “Being able to experiment with technology is what makes it technology. If people did not experiment with test tubes back in the days of Newton nothing would have happened. Its paving the way for us to move forward as a species and a civilization.” (2:33) I agree with his statement completely because in order for us to move forward in the world we constantly have to experiment with new technologies to learn what works and what doesn’t work. Throughout the video there were many similarities between the students and I. Some similarities consist of always having my cell phone with me even if I do not bring a purse. I also agreed with the girl who said she did not like abbreviations, when I text I do not use short words I always try my best to text how I would type a paper or talk to someone in face to face situations. Some differences with me and the students in the video include using technology to make music or videos, I do not do those things with technology because I do not have a great interest in music or video making, although I do like to take a lot of pictures with my cell phone. All of these students used technology to improve their lives in meaningful ways and to help them learn new information.