Technology

Technology Resources Today's current technology and resources are helping teachers to expand beyond linear, text-based learning and to engage students who learn best in other ways. Its role in schools has evolved from a contained "computer class" into a versatile learning toll that could chance how we demonstrate concepts, assign projects and assess progress. Incorporating more technology has shown it's potential for improving education in several areas, which is critical with an ever-advancing population.

Some of the ways in which technology is improving education are: better simulations and models, an opportunity for global learning, access to virtual manipulatives, the ability to effectively use probes and sensors, more efficient assessments, ability to use multimedia, access to e-books, and the opportunity to teach students through the use of games. Each of these ways uses technology differently and as an effective teaching instrument Engaging students through the use of technology is an ingenious way to teach students of the twenty first century.

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In General
Educational Origami Educational Origami is a blog and a wiki, about 21st Century Teaching and Learning. This wiki is not just about the integration of technology into the classroom, though this is certainly a critical area, it is about shifting the educational paradigm. The world is not as simple as saying teachers are digital immigrants and students digital natives. In fact, it is know that exposure to technology changes the brains of those exposed to it. The longer and stronger the exposure and the more intense the emotions the use of the technology or its content evokes, the more profound the change. This technology is increasingly ubiquitous. We have to change how we teach, how we assess, what we teach, when we teach it, where we are teaching it, and with what.

This wiki provides a variety of resources, including how to address all levels of Bloom's Taxonomy using technology, how to instruct students to practice digital citizenship, provides web 2.0 tools, and offers ways to address pedagogical skills while using technology.

[|Calculator Research Article] This paper proposes a taxonomy of the pedagogical opportunities that are offered by mathematics analysis software such as computer algebra systems, graphics calculators, dynamic geometry or statistical packages. Mathematics analysis software is software for purposes such as calculating, drawing graphs and making accurate diagrams. However, its availability in classrooms also provides opportunities for positive changes to teaching and learning. Very many examples are documented in the professional and research literature, and in this paper we organize them into 10 types. These are displayed in the form of a ‘pedagogical map’, which further classifies them according to whether the opportunity arises from new opportunities for the mathematical tasks used, change to interpersonal aspects of the classroom or change to the point of view on mathematics as a subject. The map can be used in teacher professional development to draw attention to possibilities for lessons or as a catalyst for professional discussion.

[|Lesson Plans and Templates to use with SMARTBoard Resources] This resource provides a search engine that provides templates and lessons plans to use in conjunction with the SMARTboard. Results can be narrowed by searching for lesson plans, math tools, response questions, activity packs, question sets, manipulatives, images, and videos. There are tabs that organize templates to standards-correlated lessons, most recommended, and most downloaded resources.

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TPACK and SAMR
 [|TPCK_SAMR_OER_Algebra.pdf] Technology plays a vital role in how students learn in today's world. Developed by Dr. Ruben Peuntedura, the TPACK and SAMR model aims to enable teachers to design, develop and integrate technology at a variety of levels to help students reach high levels of achievement. The TPACK model ensures that teachers are balancing their technological knowledge, their pedagogical knowledge, and their content knowledge effectively when teaching a lesson. The SAMR model assures that when technology is used, it is used at a content, appropriate level. Peuntendura acknowledges that effective instruction can be achieved through using technology appropriately at the substitution, modification, augmentation or redefinition level. This .pdf is of his PowerPoint presentation that is used address his research on TPACK and SAMR.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|SAMR Article] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">This resource provides a snapshot summary of the SAMR model. This resource explains that the SAMR model is designed to help educators integrate technology into teaching and learning. Aiming to enable teachers to design, develop, and integrate digital learning experiences that utilize technology, teachers are able to transform learning experiences that lead to high levels of understanding and achievement for students. Specifically, this resource provides a brief breakdown of the four levels of SAMR as well as an image of the breakdown. A good "quick" reference resource.

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<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Content-Specific Technology
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">There are many resources that can be adapted and integrated into a lesson to direct attention to a particular portion of the lesson. There is some content, however, that is hard for students to access through traditional instruction or through the use of hands-on activities. To help students better learn content, software has been designed to help students learn content and sharpen their skills.

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Algebra **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Calculator] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">This resource is provided by MLTI. It provides an image and a description of the scientific calculator that is provided on the MacBooks that students are provided with, as well as provided links to podcasts called "What's on Your MacBook" that reside in ITunesU. This resource may be beneficial for students that lack a calculator when teaching an algebra lesson.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Geogebra] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">This resource provides a link to download Geogebra, including introductory materials, a help page, a forum, and classroom materials. Geogebra is a dynamic geometry software. Constructions can be made with points, vectors, segments, lines, polygons, conic sections, inequalities, implicit polynomials, and functions. All of them can be changed dynamically afterwards.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Elements can be entered and modified directly on the screen, or through the input bar. Geogebra has the ability to use variables for numbers, vectors and points, find derivatives and integrals of functions and has a full complement of commands like root or exrtemum.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Learner.org] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">"Patterns, Functions and Algebra" explores the "big idea" in algebraic thinking. This online course of ten two-and-a-half hour sessions that each include video programming and interactive Web activities. The tenth session explores ways to apply the algebraic concepts that have been learned in K-8 classrooms. The lessons should be completed sequentially. Portions of the instruction can be used to enrich or reinforce students' skills relating to a certain topic or concept.

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Geometry **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Geometer's Sketch Pad] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Key Curriculum Press is the developer of Geometer's Sketch Pad. It allows users to interactively manipulate mathematical diagrams while maintaining their fundamental definitions. It has broadened the educational potential as a tool for mathematical visualization, generalization, conjecturing, and problem-solving. The creators of Geometer's Sketch Pad have invented the term "Dynamic Geometry" to create fundamentally-interactive geometric imagery. The Geometer's Sketch Pad is used to teach geometry, as well as algebra and calculus as well. The improvements in its ability to act both as an environment for students to explore and as a tool for curricular activity design and development allows students to explore a variety of mathematical topics.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Google SketchUp] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Google SketchUp is an easy-to-use program that lets teachers and students create, modify, and share 3D models. From history, algebra, geometry, to calculus, teachers are able to see how easy it is to incorporate mathematics into the 3D environment. After the images are complete, students can export an image and make a movie or print out of a view that has been made.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> [|Learner.org] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">//Geometry// introduces geometric reasoning as a method for problem solving. Throughout the first nine sessions, students will explore the properties of geometric figures, make constructions using pencil and paper and dynamic software, practice using mathematical language to express ideas an justify reasoning, and begin to explore the basis of formal mathematical proofs and solid geometry. The course of material progress from more visual, intuitive ways of solving problems to more formal exploration of geometric ideas, properties, and finally proofs. The tenth session explores ways to apply the concepts of geometry that students have learned in K-8 classrooms. Students should complete the lessons sequentially, however, portions of these activities can be used to reinforce ideas.

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Statistics and Probability **
<span class="wiki_link_ext" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Fathom] <span class="wiki_link_ext" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Fathom is easy-to-use software that bridges the gap between concrete and abstract mathematical and statistical concepts by letting students see and manipulate data in a clear graphic form. By bringing a new dynamic dimension to experiments with Fathom, data analysis becomes much more interesting. Data is everywhere--and data analysis figures prominently in subjects spanning the curriculum. With Fathom, students can use data to deepen their understanding of mathematics, statistics, science, and social science. Students can access readily available data sets and create many types of graphs, including bar charts, scatter plots, function plots, and histograms.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Learner.org] <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">//Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability// introduces statistics as a problem-solving process. In this course, you can build your skills through investigations of different ways to organize and represent data and describe and analyze variation in data. Through practical examples, you can come to understand the concepts of association between two variables, probability, random sampling, and estimation. The concluding case studies, divided into grade bands for K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 teachers, show you how to apply what you have learned in your own classroom.