Student use of ICT in mathematics

Elaine LambertTeaching and Learning Advisor

“Several years ago, inspection evidence showed that most pupils had some opportunities to use ICT as a tool to solve or explore mathematical problems. This is no longer the case”

“Secondary Schools should improve pupils’ use of ICT as a tool for learning mathematics”

Understanding the Score, Ofsted 2008

Why do I need a teacher when I’ve got Google? (Ian Gilbert)

“For years teachers have been the primary source of information in the classroom, backed up by textbooks that have been jealously guarded….But now, within a few years, the primary source will be a piece of technology children put in their pockets”

Freely available resources that students can use in a lesson to enhance learning and understanding in mathematics:

• Geogebra (Dynamic Geometry Software)• NRICH micro environments• Excel• LOGO http://nrich.maths.org/5460

Geogebra

What does it do?

www.geogebra.org

The Gamow Problem The pirate in our story has buried his treasure on the Greek island of

Thasos and noted its location on an old parchment:

“You walk directly from the flag (point F) to the palm tree (point P), counting your paces as you walk.

Then turn a quarter of a circle to the right and go to the same number of paces.

When you reach the end, put a stick in the ground (point K). Return to the flag and walk directly to the oak tree (point O), again

counting your paces and turning a quarter of a circle to the left and going the same number of paces.

Put another stick in the ground (point L). The treasure is buried in the middle of the distance of the two sticks (point

T).” After some years the flag was destroyed and the treasure could not be

found through the location of the flag. Can you find the treasure now or is it impossible?”

Using with students

1. Introductory activity – construct a square with full instructions Talk about “Robustness under drag”

2. Construct rhombus, parallelogram, rectangle, kite with support through discussion and questioning using limited menus

3. Problems given in terms of “Create” Construct” “Measure” etc

4. Investigate problems from original text

Other Useful Resources

• Word Templatehttp://www.geogebra.org/en/wiki/index.php?

title=English&printable=yes#How-to-Tutorials

• Wikihttp://www.geogebra.org/en/wiki/index.php/

English

NRICH Interactivities

• http://nrich.maths.org/public/leg.php?ct=1&cl=0&dl%5B0%5D=1&dl%5B1%5D=1&dl%5B2%5D=1&group_id=37&cldcmpid=&code=5039

Examples: Cops and Robbers- practicing coordinates and

forming strategies Fault free rectangles – investigate patterns Nine-pin triangles – investigation involving types of

triangles and congruence

Excel

• http://fsmq.org/resources/ A variety of spreadsheets that can be used across the curriculum

• Factfile – raw data http://www.carelpress.co.uk/factfile/index.html

• NRICH activities http://nrich.maths.org/public/leg.php?group_id=37&code=-77#results

Other software students can use you may wish to trial:

• Autograph• Fathom• Cabri 3D• GridAlgebra (£60 non members)(

http://www.atm.org.uk/shop/products/sof071.html)

• “If learners are not used to exploring ideas in mathematics (in any situation) then asking them to explore an aspect of mathematics using ICT may initially create problems for the teacher.”

Mathematics and Digital Technologies: New Beginnings NCETM Sept 2010

Next session:

• Feedback on your trials• TI Nspire• Graphic Calculators• Data Logging• Next year