Integrating technology into teaching mathematics
By Jason Coady, instructor of mathematics
I began teaching with a tablet PC in the fall of 2006 as part of a small trial on campus to identify ways we might be able to use this technology to enhance our teaching. I still am amazed at how quickly the tablet transformed from being a classroom tool, like the graphing calculator, to being a fundamental component of my pedagogical approach. The tablet PC has revolutionized my teaching and taken my students' learning to places I never could have imagined.
As a teaching tool, the tablet PC is a fantastic addition to the classroom. I prepare my class notes on the tablet and then share them during class using a wireless projector. As I teach, I add examples and explanations to the prepared notes, drawing out connections and highlighting key ideas. After class, I post the notes to my course pages on our Blackboard site. The two obvious benefits of this are that my students can go back later to complete their own notes, and that those who miss class can more easily keep up with the course. An additional benefit is that when a student has a question I am not able to address in class, I can write up an explanation and post it for everyone to see later that day. This has enabled me to let classroom discussions go on longer, knowing that even if we run out of time my students won't have to miss valuable information.
While I love the tablet PC for what it allows me to do in and out of class, I find that its greatest benefits are pedagogical. For example, using this tool, my students can now be involved in class in a way that works best for their individual learning styles. Students who learn best by writing things down can continue to take notes in class; my class notes are then available to them as supplements to their own work. For students who are visual or auditory learners, they can now spend more time watching and listening in class, knowing they can look at my notes later to fill in gaps in theirs and reinforce what they learned that day.
Since I began teaching with the tablet, I have noticed a change in my students' in-class behavior. They are more engaged and interactive, and they ask deeper, more insightful questions. This often leads to interesting discussions and better understanding. The only thing that hasn't changed is that they still ask, "When are we ever going to use this?" I welcome that question now, because it's an opportunity for me go to the Internet, pull up an example that answers their question, and insert the relevant links into the class notes. The possibilities for teaching with a tablet PC seem endless, and I can't imagine teaching without it.