The first thing I want to say is the video at the first
of this lesson blew my mind. Visualizing with technologies is such a huge step
in the right direction. Not only can a student work a problem from basic facts
of problem solving but with the technology that we have the student can really visually
understand it as well. Visualizing a math problem is very important. It’s a known
fact that without visualization you cannot gain a true understanding of math. For
example a student is told that they need to find the smallest surface area for
a given volume. Without visualization the student wouldn’t know how to begin
and even if they were given hints could they really understand the problem without
visually seeing it in their mind or on a computer or scratch paper?
As for the impact on
the learning process, visualizing with technologies could do nothing but
improve the classroom. In a math class visualization is so important that it's
a necessity. With graphs and geometry class the student needs to see the shapes
and how the lines move. With all the technology out there the student cannot only
see how an equation is plotted but they can see the line move in real time
witch will give the student an idea on how math relates to everything in live. With
math everything comes alive. Ok that last statement might seem like a little
much for non math majors but to me, it really does.
I agree with you in so many ways! I have never thought about how visual we really are in this world, especially in math. I am a very visual person, and I have to see everything that I need to solve on paper. I like how you said that you have to see the graphs and also some things with geometry class. There are some things that we must see that technology can not help us with.
ReplyDelete-Sarah Marshall
Hi Brek,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on the importance of visualization in math. A student can claim that he or she is an auditory learner, but in truth it is very difficult, if not impossible, to translate anything into a mathematical expression without visualizing the situation, the conditions that must hold, and the problem itself. There is a reason why in elementary students are taught how to do basic arithmetic operations by drawing sets -- these abstract symbols are very hard to comprehend without visualization. I believe as math teachers we are responsible for knowing what new tools we have to make learning math as easy and real to students as possible.
Karissa Blasquez
Brek,
ReplyDeleteI noticed after reading the Chp. 9 assigned to us, how much it will benefit the subject of math much more than other courses. Although, I am not saying it isn't possible for me to incorporate visual technologies in my art class. But while I was reading the math section I started to see how I use technology in my math course for this semester and how nice it would be if the graphs were more vibrant or interactive then say the T1-83 calculators.
I do however, hope that our schools we teach in have the budget to incorporate some of these technologies. I would love to see what my students can produce using a drawing tablet or the use of a camera.
Nicole Acosta
I 100% agree with you on this. These students are very lucky to have this type of software to learn and create from. I think it is amazing that they are able to work this and enhance their furures so much. They will be able to do so much with these techniques in place.
ReplyDeletethe last comment was from Christopher Hall
ReplyDeleteI will agree that the video was mind blowing. At his age I would have never thought of things like he does. Hopefully with todays technology we can make our students as outgoing as the kid in the video.
ReplyDeleteWesley Baird