Data Tracking while Enhancing Student Engagement and Understanding
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Course Overview
Purpose
The topic of this course is to integrate technology into the mathematics classroom as a way to engage adolescents in their own learning as well as provide constant learner data for the instructor. Many teachers encounter students who dread their specific subject of choice. In today’s age, it is known that students’ lives revolve around technology, specifically cell phones, and the need and want to be constantly connected. Teachers can use this idea to their advantage by incorporating multiple technology-based sources into their everyday teaching which allows for a constant connection between learners and instructors.
Assessment of Learner Needs
Learners will consist of secondary education mathematics teachers from both public and private school backgrounds. They will be familiar with the Common Core Standards in New York State. Learners will be motivated to learn this material in order to benefit their students academically as well as provide them with engaging and informative lessons for both student and teacher. Not all secondary education mathematics teachers are aware or trained in integrating technology into their classes, nor are they aware of the data that can be retrieved. When teachers integrate technology into their classrooms they are creating a more engaging learning environment for their students. "Calculators and computers are potential tools to enhance students’ understanding and learning of mathematics" (Akcay, 2017, p.163). Through this technology, it continuously tracks student’s involvement and allows for student-teacher and student-student conversation and scaffolding. At the end of a lesson through these technologies, teachers can quickly look through the retrieved data to gauge student understanding. Adams (2016) states that "the use of curriculum-based measurement (a type of general outcome measure) within the framework of curriculum-based evaluation (a type of mastery monitoring) can improve the math achievement of students" (p.6). It becomes more of a project-based learning where students take the front seat to their own learning and teachers can take the back seat and provide supports where/when needed.
Performance Objectives
At the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Identify instructional strategies that work best for individual students through online provided data which measures individual student understanding
- Develop data-driven lessons that can either review previously taught material or begin to move forward with upcoming material through the use of technology mediums and the use of rubrics and self-evaluation
- Execute scaffolding and supports through the Khan Academy and Desmos mediums to enhance student understanding both in and outside of the physical classroom
Course Units
This mini-course includes the following units. Click the title of a unit to go to its page.
Unit 1: Introduction to Integrating the Web into the Math Classroom
Target Objectives:
- Choose an individual student and identify one instructional need that may be benefited by the use of technology in the classroom
- Identify instructional strategies that work best for this individual student through online provided data which measures student understanding
Activities:
- Survey
- Reading and Response
- E-Lecture
- Reflection
Unit 2: Using Khan Academy and Desmos
Target Objectives:
- Execute scaffolding and supports through the Khan Academy and Desmos mediums to enhance student understanding
- Become comfortable with the use of these mediums in the classroom
- Gauge student understanding through technology provided data
- Identify which medium works best for your classroom and enhancing student engagement
Activities:
- E-Lecture (Videos, Images)
- In-Service Practice Activity
- Reflection/Evaluation Activity
Unit 3: Create Your Own Technology Integrated Math Lesson
Target Objectives:
- Modify instruction to best suit student needs
- Develop data-driven lessons to enhance student areas of improvement
Activities:
- E-Lecture
- Create a personalized lesson within the medium of choice with the use of rubrics
- Self-Reflections/Evaluations
Extended Resources
Adams, D. L. (2016). Action research on the effectiveness of khan academy as a tier I intervention. The School of Education, Health and Society and Department of Educational Psychology. Retrieved from: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=miami1466588390&disposition=inline
Akcay, A. O. (2017). Instructional technologies and pre-service mathematics teachers’ selection of technology. Journal of Education and Practice. 8(7). pp. 163-173.
Costley, K. C. (2014). The Positive Effects of Technology on Teaching and Student Learning. Arkansas Tech University. Retrieved from: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED554557.pdf
Desmos use in the classroom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nh_zzcwgc8
Explore math with Desmos. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.desmos.com/
Khan Academy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.khanacademy.org/
Why I use Khan Academy - an educator's perspective - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SseqbIzXjg
