Unique ways to use technology in the classroom

Finding creative ways to use technology in the classroom can both make your life
easier as a teacher and boost student excitement levels and engagement with lessons.
From helping with communication among teachers and students (as well as peer-to-
peer), to organizing curriculum calendars and enhancing presentations and lessons with
media and visuals, there is no limit to the ways to use technology in the classroom to
create an enriched learning environment. Here are just a few examples:

1. Gamified learning
To this day, I give all credit for my skill in typing to time spent playing typing games in
the computer lab of my elementary school. Not only were the games incredible, and
incredibly engaging programs for teaching students typing skills, they made using a
computer fun and exciting for me and set the foundation for all other computer
knowledge I’ve gained since. Learning can and should be fun and using technology
for gamified learning in your classroom can be advantageous to achieving that goal.
One example of a gamified learning experience is Giant Steps, a digital learning
experience designed to help K-12 teachers boost student collaboration and independent
practice, from the makers of GoGuardian Teacher and Pear Deck, two of the world’s
most popular learning platforms.

While learning software can be a great teaching tool, gamified learning can also be as
simple as creating a virtual scavenger hunt by coming up with a list of questions for
students to search and find the correct answers for and adding students to pairs or
groups to encourage collaboration and teamwork.

2. Digital field trips

An increasingly popular, useful, and cost-effective tool for teachers searching for new
ways to use technology in the classroom is taking digital field trips. Google Streetview
and other similar apps allow you to virtually explore parks, forests, and even national
and international landmarks from the comfort of your classroom. Virtually experience the
view from the Statue of Liberty or hike through the Grand Canyon to get students
excited to learn about a location or subject and extend learning beyond the page.

3. Integrate social media

Because students already spend so much of their time on social media, integrating its
use into your classroom is among the most innovative ways to use technology in the
classroom by connecting students to curriculum, classroom resources, and one another.
Create a Facebook group specifically for your class where you post discussion topics or
develop unique classroom Twitter hashtags students can use to discuss lessons or ask
questions.

4. Gather student feedback

The true test of any classroom structure and/or curriculum is how well it helps students
learn, and getting feedback from students is vital to assessing this, determining what is
and isn’t working, and addressing problems and confusion as they arise. Use online
surveys and polls to perform daily or weekly check-ins with students to get their
opinions on lessons and address lingering questions or concerns. Expand on the usage
of Twitter hashtags by having students tweet their feedback and questions with a
classroom hashtag.

#QTNA (questions that need answers!)

5. Creating digital content

Creating digital content related to the things they are learning is a great way for students
to display their individual creative talents as well as showcase learning. As with any
other project, the process of creating content is most effective when students are able to
express themselves in ways that highlight and accommodate their personal strengths
and learning/communication styles. Provide options for students to express themselves
through blogs, videos, podcasts, eBooks, flyers, other digital art, or any other means
they feel most comfortable. Respecting each student’s individuality and needs for
creative expression helps them flourish as learners.

6. Using a classroom calendar

Develop a shared online calendar for your classroom through Google Calendar or a
similar program for posting important updates. Post assignment due dates and
classroom events (such as field trips and guest speakers) in one easily-accessible
location for both teachers and students. Go a step further and share the calendar with
caregivers to keep them connected and engaged with their child’s learning.

7. Review and critique webpages

While we know you can find almost anything on the internet, we also know much of
what you may find is not reliable information from reliable sources. I remember being
told frequently by teachers and professors, “Wikipedia is not a reliable source” when
doing research papers, but can’t recall a single instructor who explained why. Empower
your students with digital literacy to analyze and discern reliable web pages and
sources from unreliable ones by reviewing them together and developing and
communicating standards for what makes a good source.

8. Video/multimedia lessons and

presentations
Bring presentations to life for students by incorporating visual effects, photos, videos,
and music into them. Developing slideshows and digital presentations, playing music or
a video for background and context while presenting, or inviting virtual guest speakers
to engage with your class via programs designed for conference calls (such as Skype,
Google Hangouts, and Facetime) are all fun and creative ways to boost engagement
with lessons while teaching the benefits of technology and multimedia use.

9. Online activities for students who

finish work early
Set up learning stations to encourage and support students working at their own pace. If
a student finishes an assignment early, rather than being stuck waiting for other
students to catch up or class to end, students can extend and enhance their learning by
visiting a learning station and watching videos, playing learning-based games, or
exploring other online activities related to their studies.

Why students benefit from using

technology in the classroom
Integrating technology into classrooms allows for more (and more effective)
communication between students and teachers, as well as students, peers, and
caregivers, all of which are vital to students’ academic success. Using technology in
your classrooms also creates space for students to have a voice in their learning.
Students are empowered to take responsibility of their learning through giving feedback
on lessons, participating in projects and learning activities that respect their individuality,
and having opportunities and support to learn and understand how to use technology
creatively, effectively, and safely.
Full article: Integrating digital technology in mathematics education: a Swedish case study
(tandfonline.com)

TEACHING MATH WITH

TECHNOLOGY: 8 VIRTUAL
RESOURCES
Research shows that teachers can integrate technology to help students grasp mathematical
procedures and develop advanced mathematical proficiencies. The National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) added that technological tools are necessary for engaging
students.

8 Virtual Resources that Help Teach Mathematics

Here are some effective tools for teaching math with technology.

1.    VmathLive
VmathLive features online mathematics competitions for students in grades K-8. This is a paid
product.

The offering features four primary components:

  An “Intelligent Teacher Dashboard” area that tracks student performance, including
activity metrics, class progress for goals and milestones, and alerts for students who are
struggling.
 A “Learn” component allowing students to progress at their own pace, through
questions from 334 math topics.
 A “Master” component that quizzes students on what they have learned.
 A “Play” component with real-time competitions from students across the United States.

VmathLive costs $10 per student or $200 per class (up to 25 students), according to
the company’s product page at the time of publication.

2.    Desmos
Desmos offers a free web-based graphing calculator as well as digital activities for grades 6-12.

The primary offering is a calculator that matches the functionality of many $100-plus TI
calculators. It’s a popular option for those who are looking to effectively teach math with
technology. The other offering from Desmos, the digital activity center, presents several
interactive lessons that students can perform on their own tablet or device. There is a section
that enables teachers to create and share lessons with other teachers.

3. Brighterly
Brighterly is a digital math learning platform for kids. Brighterly approaches online tutorship
differently – it helps children understand how math works, show its real-life applications, and
evoke children’s curiosity for this subject. This is a paid product.

Using it you can make study easy by:

 Applying mistake-friendly teaching approaches.

 Using interactive math learning activities to engage students.
 Making friends with your kid to promote stress-free learning.
 Explaining how math concepts work in real life.
 Teaching math procedures so that kids can apply them to contextual math problems.

In Brighterly, parents can register students in her one-on-one mathematics course. Thousands
of children around the world use it brighter.
4.    EquatIO
EquatIO is a tool for creating mathematical equations, formulas, Desmos graphs, and more on
computers or Chromebooks.

The product seeks to digitize mathematics by simple input methods. Teachers can type,
handwrite, or dictate expressions to add the result to a document, and there is a large library
full of premade expressions. In other words, it’s sort of a smart assistant that can replace pen
and paper, as well as offer prediction capabilities. The product works with literacy software
Read&Write (paid), which is helpful for blending accessibility and teaching math with
technology.

EquatIO is free for teachers. Paid licenses are available for other types of users and groups.

5.    Kahoot!
Kahoot! is an interactive game that presents multiple choice questions to students in the same
classroom. This learning tool offers free and paid plans.

Teachers can search for premade questions and answers in a variety of subjects, or they can
create their own (paid). Questions are projected on a screen in the classroom, and students
select the answer on their devices. The highest scoring students are displayed before the next
question, creating a fun, competitive atmosphere.

Kahoot! has a basic free plan, as well as two paid plans ($1 or $3 per teacher/month) that offer
more advanced features.

6.    Online Games

Teaching math to kids with online games is a popular method of engagement. Here are two
free websites that feature a wide variety of interactive games for students in grades 1-6:

 Arcademics.com is an award-winning educational website that offers free multiplayer

games, arcade math games, and more. The games adhere to Common Core math
standards and span topics such as shapes, math functions, integers, fractions, and
algebra.
 Math Playground offers several math and logic games, as well as arcade-based activities
and math videos. A small number of games require a paid subscription.
7.    SMART Board Activities/Games
Classrooms equipped with SMART boards can take advantage of free activities and games
available across the internet.

Sites such as SMART Exchange and iSmartboard.com help teachers find thousands of fun

lessons, and they are organized by grade level. Many of the activities and games are submitted
by teachers who are already using them for teaching math to kids in the classroom.

8.    Sumdog
Sumdog is an adaptive learning tool for teaching math with technology to students in grades K-
8. Paid subscription plans unlock premium teacher tools.

Sumdog features game-based learning that motivates and engages students. On computers
and tablets, students answer questions at their own pace, with activities geared towards their
skill level. Positive reinforcement rewards students’ achievements in the game, and teachers
receive assessment data to guide lessons and examine individual student needs. Effectiveness
studies and case studies have found improvements in student achievement with the product.

Pricing quotes are available through Sumdog’s website.

9.    YouTube Videos

YouTube is a great source for interactive videos that help students learn mathematical concepts
and practice what they’ve learned. Here are some of the most noteworthy YouTube channels
for math instruction:

 Khan Academy has a multitude of free videos covering basic and advanced concepts.
 Mathademics offers short videos on elementary and middle school topics, focusing on
subjects such as geometry and fractions.
 Numberphile features colorful videos on topics such as Pi, prime numbers, and games
like Yahtzee.

Teachers can also create their own YouTube videos, for a unique perspective on teaching math
with technology. Examples range from a more elaborate and wacky show to a simpler and
more focused clip in the real world.

https://youtu.be/aLhtpGugc9I
This video on rounding was created by Mr. DeMaio, a third-grade teacher in Union Beach, New
Jersey. Here, he and his friends Steve and Andy take a whimsical, funny perspective on the
subject.

https://youtu.be/CqD0alY12ag

This video on grocery prices was created by Jennie Magiera, a former teacher who currently
works as a chief program officer at an educational organization. Here she asks students to
figure out which of the three options for purchasing sharp cheddar cheese is the best choice,
mathematically.

Engaging Your Students in Mathematics

According to the NCTM, teachers must be knowledgeable in implementing technology to help
teach mathematics. Using some of the aforementioned resources effectively requires a
strategic approach.

You can strengthen that ability by earning an online master’s in mathematics education, which
includes an elective course on technology in mathematics classrooms. In this degree program,
you’ll deepen your understanding of mathematical concepts and their usage throughout the K-
12 spectrum. You’ll develop the mathematics content and pedagogy needed to instill a deep
interest for math in the next generation of learners.

Advance your career with a degree from Aurora University Online. Learn from practitioner-
based faculty members focused on helping working professionals reach their goals. Experience
what it means to study in a flexible and convenient learning environment, while receiving the
personal attention and support you expect of a small college.

Teaching Math with Technology: 8 Virtual Resources - The Tech Edvocate