Tech-No: Has technology in math education become token?

There is a major technology push across almost all areas of education in schools, but is it really necessary?

Look, I’m not saying I’m against it, in fact, I’m all for it. I try my best to implement tech into my classes wherever/whenever possible, but many times... I feel like not much is happening when I do.

When I try to get some sort of tech into my lessons, I often feel stressed and worried about how smoothly my lesson goes… because I know without the tech, it goes damn well.

The question I raise is this… Why would I want to try to change something that’s been working just fine (for decades, really)?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

This is such a tough topic to talk about, as I WISH I could successfully make my math lessons more technologically advanced, but I always find myself reverting back to a Word lesson with a projector on a whiteboard. The ol’ stand-by. A way of delivering lessons that has been around from the start of time…or so it seems, anyway. Yes, projecting a blank note sheet on a board in front of your class is likely the most used method of delivering a math lesson…and I don’t see that changing.

I know there are a lot of teachers doing amazing things with technology in their lessons, and one that comes to mind is the legendary, Dan Meyer. This dude has got a tonne of videos out of how he has integrated tech into his teaching, and it’s simply amazing. The amount of thought, time, skill, and patience he’s shown in these lessons is unbelievable. I want to learn from the guy. I want to pick his brain and learn, not how he uses tech, but how he gets his students into it.

Getting students interested in what you’re attempting can be the biggest struggle of them all, as they often think to themselves, “Ugh, why is he trying this again, just teach us the normal way?” That question was not something I dreamt up, I’ve had students tell me exactly this. This tells me that efforts to include tech in math lessons are really just a token…it’s become something that’s considered a “slack day” as opposed to a regular teaching day.

I’m not saying that I don’t use technology, as I do for every lesson I do, I’m saying that I think there needs to be a balance. I’ve seen teachers operate a completely paperless math class, delivering their lessons through videos and giving/receiving assignments though a class website. No notes, no in-class worksheets, no quizzes, no exams…just vague, interactive assignments and tests to complete online.

To me, this is not a math class. This is just lazy.

Videos you’ve found online, coupled with assignments and exams you may or may not have created, but don’t need to mark because of the automated nature of the program you use? Yeah, that’s not teaching… that’s called modules or “by correspondence”. If a person runs their class with the expectation of it being automated or non-contact, that person cannot call themselves a teacher. They manage resources… that is all.

How do you use technology in your (math) class? Are you finding success? Are the students enjoying it? Are all parties involved being enriched in some way?

OR

Are you struggling with how to find engaging tech? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you spending more time ensure the tech works properly rather than ensuring the content is delivered properly?

As much as I want you to answer YES to the first group of questions, I feel like the majority of you answered YES to the last group.

I’ve been involved with creating an Educational Technology Collaboration Project, in which teachers from across the world have contributed ideas of how they integrate tech in their classrooms. A lot of the ideas sound awesome, and appear to be working well for the contributor, but I don’t think that’s for everyone.

If you’re not a tech-y person, or are afraid of change…you need to keep doing you. Stick to what you know and what you do well…the kids appreciate it!

Though if you’re the type of person to commit to trying something new (and I mean commit), please do. Please, try different ways to getting tech into your lesson. If it goes well, do your best to pass on that knowledge/idea to another like-minded teacher.

We need people to take charge and to help lead a revolution in how we deliver math to students.

Yes, what we’re doing now works fine, as it has forever…but too many people (including myself) think this. When a teacher comes up with a successful method to challenge the norm, we need to embrace it. We need to embrace it and give it a fair shot as a legitimate method to replace what we are comfortable with. Change is never comfortable, but change is always good.

“Be the change that you wish to see in world.” - Gandhi

You got dis. I believe in you. You're all Rock-stars and Legends and I love you.​