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.
You made many excellent points Michelle. Geometer’s sketchpad is a great way for students who like to see things visually to learn. I also like how this program allows students to think critically for them without giving solutions, and allows students to start over or undo if they did a mistake. This is a lot more convenient than starting over on paper if a mistake is made. I like how you mentioned that it will allow the students to see that the theorems are true. This is a better learning strategy than just having the students memorize, this way the students will actually understand and be more likely to remember. I agree with you that this is an effective program to use in the classroom, and would use this program myself.
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