Love it or hate it, technology is here to stay. Blame it on Covid or the rise of social media but either way, technology is becoming more and more integral to schools and specifically math classes. Using technology in math classrooms doesn’t have to be negative or even detrimental to your students! Technology can add value to your lessons and it can really help students understand key concepts! If you are ready to take your technology use to the next level then you’re in the right place! I’m here to share 5 ways to use technology in math classrooms so let’s dive in!
Technology is a great option for math learning centers but it isn’t the only rotation idea! If you’ve ever wondered how to set up math stations easily- and transform your classroom from frustrating to fun then join the 5 part video training series! Drop your email below and the videos will be sent straight to your inbox.
How can technology help students in the classroom
Before we dive into all the great ways of using technology in math, we need to start with what technology can do for students. I think that technology can really get a bad rep when it comes to being helpful to students. Social media can be a toxic place, cyberbullying is a real thing. But when used correctly technology can provide so many benefits in the classroom.
Differentiation
This is probably to biggest and most well-known answer to how can technology help students in the classroom question. Different programs can provide lessons, activities, and practice at the specific students’ level. Typically students will start the program with a pre-test or entry-level task to gauge students’ knowledge. Then based on a student’s level, the computer program will direct students to specific lessons at their level.
Examples of this type of technology in the classroom:
These programs (and others I’m sure) are one way to incorporate technology in the math classrooms. It’s a relatively easy way to use technology to help your students. These programs can help to close learning gaps but they should be the end all be all. They are simply one way to utilize technology in the classroom.
Engagement
Another way that technology in math classrooms can help students is by providing engagement. Students find technology engaging. So rather than working against that excitement, let’s work with it. Computer games, bright colors, even drawing with their fingers can all up the excitement for your next lesson. Now, I don’t use technology every day in every lesson. So I try to capitalize on engagement by being choosy with technology. I pick the best components of technology for a lesson. And I teach plenty of lessons without technology to keep things fresh and exciting.
Collaboration
I think one of the most powerful components of technology is the collaboration aspect. If the last few years (decades?) taught us anything, is that technology can be used to connect people from all over the world. What could this look like practically in the classroom? Ideas could include working with peers on a set of task cards, completing a project as a team, and writing an essay in pairs. In math, this collaboration could be working on a PBL with other students in other classes, learning from students in other states, solving a problem with a student in another math class. Think outside the box and get creative with technology!
Tools like Google Drive make it easy to collaborate but also the virtual collaboration with Microsoft Teams or Zoom can work too! Even if you are teaching in person, we learned a lot of different tools while remote than can still work in the classroom! Use those strategies from remote learning in the classroom to extend the collaboration.
Using Technology in Math Classroom Ideas
Now that we have seen how can technology help students in the classroom, let’s talk about my 5 favorite ways to use it in math! This is a list of tried and true resources that I have used in my own classroom. I won’t recommend anything I haven’t used myself with at least one grade level.
#1: Differentiation Program
Depending on the grade level and school I’ve worked at, these programs have been required or optional to use. They each have their pros and cons but at the end of the day, students are completing activities at their level. This means that all students can be engaged academically at their level. One student could be working on their addition facts while another is working on elapsed time and still another student is working on exploring division. This level of differentiation is really tricky to get in the classroom without the use of technology. So embrace it!
I made the differentiation program a part of our station rotations. Students had to complete a certain number of minutes a week so to fit it all in, the differentiation program was their technology station. This could also be used as a warm-up activity for the start of a math block, or as a fast finisher to assessments.
#2: Videos for Math Lessons
I love getting to use videos for math lessons because it makes getting through content easier. I will make a video for explaining and filling in our notes page and have students watch the video on their own. This could be set up like a flipped-classroom approach and it worked amazing in the hybrid setup. Students watch the video and fill in their notes page. They can pause the video if it is going too fast and students can relisten to the video to help them remember steps which are great for auditory learners. Videos for math also work well if students are absent as they can still get the notes and explanations. The videos can also be a great sub-plan option so students don’t fall behind while you are out.
Creating videos doesn’t require a film degree! Programs like Loom or ScreenCastify are my favorite for creating short video lessons. They are pretty self-explanatory and you can record your screen which is awesome if you have a tablet or device with a touch screen to record from.
Worried about filming? You can also use videos from Khan Academy or Edpuzzle that are already created. You would then need to make a notes sheet that follows along with it for students to fill in or keep track of their work and examples. Or, you can also use this open-ended video notes sheet to help students stay organized.
If you teach 5th grade math and want video lessons done for you be sure to check out the units below!
Worksheet on Decimal Place Value
Adding and Subtracting Fractions How To
Algebraic Expressions for 5th Grade
The Bundle: Math Lesson for 5th Grade
#3: Teaching with Technology Tools
There are a plethora of models for math concepts online that really show what is happening. I personally love Desmos for showing different math concepts in fun ways, like marble slides for middle school topics! They are also working on creating lessons to go with their activities which is awesome for not only technology use but also more engaging lessons in general.
Another great site is called PhET Simulations and they have a bunch of different topics and grade levels. I’ve used it for both math and science to really show students concepts that are more abstract.
#4: Collaboration Ideas
While I used more of these ideas during remote learning, these are my favorite ways to collaborate with technology!
Nearpod: This program allows students to engage with lessons individually or instructor-led. You can create discussion prompts, written responses, and collaboration boards in Nearpod. This program is a little clunky (in my opinion) but it offers a wide range of ideas to bring lessons to life. There is a free and paid version so the collaboration options are more extensive in the paid version. The free version does have a few options though.
Google Jamboard: This is a collaborative whiteboard from Google that allows you (or students) to create a whiteboard. Students can write, draw, add sticky notes all on the same whiteboard. This is awesome for brainstorming sessions, to use while playing games like Jeopardy, or to solve word problems together. Especially if you have touch screen devices, this tool is so helpful!
Peardeck: I prefer this platform over Nearpod because you can create your lesson in Google Slides and add this add-on tool to get your slides to the next level. Students are able to share ideas on collaboration boards, share written responses, and engage with lessons using drawing tools (great for math!) and drag and drop. It is also very easy to use and to convert lessons you have already made in Google into Peardecks.
#5: Use Technolong in Math Classrooms with Games
What could possibly up the engagement more than playing games? While I love playing physical games during my math learning centers, I will also use technology to help me out. There are so many fun games these days to also review content. These options all have a discover feature so you don’t even have to make up your own games unless you want to!
- Blooket: my students are obsessed with this one! I love that you can assign to play individually or whole group.
- Kahoot: an oldie but goodie, great option to play whole group
- Gimkit: a fun option where students can earn money and spend it on level ups, this one has a video game feel to it which kids love!
- Quizziz: another great option to review, students compete against everyone who plays (even from past classes) to score the highest
Looking for more ways to use technology in math classrooms?
If you are looking for more ideas to use technology in math be sure to check out these posts.
5 Tech Ideas for Student Engagement
Effective Technology Use in Math Class
10+ Ways to Use Technology in the Math Classroom
Teaching Math with Technology: 8 Virtual Resources
What are your favorite ways to use technology in math classrooms? Any tools or programs that you love? Be sure to share them in the comments below!
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