Review 3 Citation
Drier, H. (2001). Teaching
and learning mathematics with interactive spreadsheets. School
Science and Mathematics, 101(4), 170-79.
Persistent link to the full-text of this article:
http://0-search.epnet.com.wncln.wncln.org:80/direct.asp?an=EJ630130&db=eric
Quotation
“Recent trends in teacher education have emphasized the importance of learning
with technology rather than learning about technology. This
implies that teachers should learn to use a computer as a cognitive tool
to enhance student learning of content material (e.g., mathematics, social
studies, or science) rather than acquiring isolated skills in basic computing
applications (e.g., wordprocessing, database, spreadsheets, or hypermedia)
or merely learning a specific programming language (Abramovich & Drier,
1999).” (p.170)
Explanation and Comments
This article really caught my attention with its emphasis on learning with
technology rather than about technology. This
statement was profound because of the reflection it had to my methods of
teaching spreadsheets to my students. The
article continued to say that preservice teachers are not taught the instructional
methods of using computing technologies to help change the nature and emphasis
of the mathematics curriculum. This
was of special interest to me since the author was from North
Carolina State University
and she is obviously aware of the new teachers’ weaknesses that are joining
our forces in the public and private sector each year. The
article next referred to the fact that in-service mathematics teachers
receive basic training sessions along with other content-area teachers. This
leaves the math teachers coming away without concrete ideas of how to use
the computer technology tools to help students learn the mathematical content. I
felt a real identity stereotyping when I read this, and unfortunately,
I matched the stereotype. This
article was exactly right. The
wonderful thing about this article was that it did not stop with just identifying
the problem. The author’s suggestion
was for teachers to design their own interactive environments. I
was delighted when the author explained some specific functions and how
to place them into three interactive spreadsheets. Articles
like this give me inspiration to try these things in my own classroom. I
find it very difficult to always try to “reinvent the wheel.” With
help like this article, I find myself very willing to develop and integrate
these ideas into my lesson plans. I
found this article to be of immense help in motivating me to teach my students
to learn with technology instead of learn
about technology.
Deb Jones, 7th grade teacher, WCU graduate
student, May 1, 2004
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