Here you will learn how technology is being used to impact teaching and learning in mathematics curricula. You will gain a better understanding of technology integration as you see exemplary examples of technology integration in progress.

Math teachers need to be aware of where to find rich resources that will help them incorporate technology tools in their classrooms. Tools that engage students as they investigate concepts and solve meaningful problems include spreadsheets, graphing calculators, geometry applications, and websites that explore the use of mathematics in applied contexts. Helping you to find the best online resources is the focus of this lesson. Two ideal places to begin are with the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) and Virtual Math Manipulatives. In Lesson 3, we will take a look at other math tools such as hardware and software.

National Science Digital Library

The NSDL offers high-quality materials for science, mathematics, engineering and technology education and is one of the largest digital libraries available. The K-12 section of the site provides math and science teachers access to literally thousands of resources for your classroom.

Since the library database is so huge, let's narrow the focus by exploring areas targeted for math education. The NSDL can be viewed as a "Gateway" (AKA Pathways) to these rich resources. A Pathway is a specialized collection of educational content and services for specific learners. The Math Pathway, of course, is targeted for Math K-12 educators and students and also leads to undergraduate mathematics resources. First, take a look at the Math DL: Mathematics Pathway.

Today's students are active consumers of technology. Many call them "digital natives" because they have grown-up in an arena where active technology is all around them. Video games, cell phones, text messages, YouTube, etc....all engage students in active ways. If you want to motivate students to learn math, then reach them where they are! Engage students in active learning strategies using tools that are similar to what they are already using in their personal lives. Online interactive sites are one way to engage students at this level. Consider what you can do with virtual manipulatives.

Virtual Math Manipulatives

Manipulatives are concrete or symbolic artifacts and can be powerful instructional aids because they allow active, hands-on exploration of often challenging abstract concepts. According to Explore eLearning (Cholmsky, 2003), "research has shown that computer-based manipulatives are even more effective than ones involving physical objects, in part because they can dynamically link multiple representations together."

Traditionally, students use physical manipulatives to learn abstract mathematical concepts (cubes, geoboards, rods, etc.) with some level of success. Now these learning environments are available virtually online and provide students with a similar way to understand concepts. The value of these representations is that visual learners are able to "see" mathematical relationships.

The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) from Utah State University has developed a setof interactive web-basedvirtual manipulatives that provide provide a unique & interesting approach to interactive mathematical instruction. Check out the tools onthe NVLM site designed for K-12 classrooms. Interactive tools are available for Number & Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis & Probability. This is a great site for teachers to use as a supplement to their math curriculum and help students visualize relationships and applications.

If you like the NVLM tools and want to use them personally or with students in a classroom, try the eNVLM interactive online lessons, which is a great way to learn how to use the NVLM tools.

Have you heard of Gizmos? These are online simulations that use animations similar to those utilized in the virtual manipulatives. Explore eLearning is a commercial site that has developed a number of these tools for math and science curricula. Once you have an idea of what they are, take a look at some of the sample gizmos and accompanying lesson plans. You can browse the Gizmos by content and grade level.

More Tools

The Math Forum @ Drexel University's School of Education contains many resources for teaching math at all levels. There is a practical focus to the resources on the forum in that they were developed with input from real teachers and have become a staple in many math teachers toolbox. You may want to consider joining this math community of learners.

Shodor Education Foundation provides numerous educational resources in math and science. Their Interactivate site is an excellent source for interactive activities and courseware.

Additional Resources

Research on effectiveness of virtual manipulatives. Abstracts from George Mason University (scroll down to the bottom for the list).

Cholmsky, P. (2003). Why Gizmos work: Empirical evidence for the instructional effectiveness of ExploreLearning's interactive content (pdf). Retrieved from http://www.explorelearning.com/View/downloads/WhyGizmosWork.pdf.