Course Description
Use of technological tools in teaching elementary mathematics. Current computer software for mathematical explorations.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are expected to engage in independent study where they design technologically embedded curricula and methods of teaching in the elementary school.
Athena Title
TECHNOL ELEM MATH
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course will introduce pre-service elementary teachers to the powerful technological tools available to them in today’s modern schools and will enable them to use these tools in their own learning of children’s mathematics. While the content focus of the course is Children’s Mathematics, the technological skills learned and the technological resources that students will use will have applications across the whole elementary curriculum.
Topical Outline
Technological Resources Email: Students will be given email accounts and will learn how to use email as a required medium of communication in this course. Internet: Students will learn how to use the Internet (in particular, the World Wide Web) to find resources for their teaching activities, to participate in electronic discussions relevant to their own learning, and as a global resource for children’s learning CD-ROM: Students will have opportunities to review and explore CD-ROM resources maintained by OIT and other departments in the College. Mathematics Education is developing a collection of CD-ROM resources for mathematics teaching and learning. Computer Software Tools for Teachers: Students will learn how to use a word processor and will be required to prepare all written assignments using a word processor. They will also learn how to use integrated software packages that provide spreadsheets, data bases and graphics programs together with word processing. They will learn how to use the spreadsheet and data base to maintain typical school records, such as grade sheets, attendance roles, lunchroom and other student data. They will learn how to use the graphics software to prepare attractive and interesting information and activity sheets. Computer Software Tools for Children: Students will learn how children can use the above tools to do mathematical explorations and to present results of their explorations. In addition, specific software for children’s learning of mathematics will be used by the students to explore children’s mathematics. Such software will include, but not be limited to, the microworlds that are being developed by the Fractions Project. Other mathematics software for young children will include: Turtle Math, LogoWriter, Logo Microworlds, Number Connections, and the Geometer’s Sketchpad. Calculators: Students will learn how they can use calculators as tools for developing and exploring number concepts at the elementary level. Video: Video will be used as a resource in this course to introduce students to teachers and children using technology in their teaching and learning of mathematics and other related subjects. Students will also learn how they can use video as a medium for feedback and reflection on their own teaching activities and interactions with children. Local teachers and children will share with students how video is being used in local elementary schools as a tool for learning and a medium of communication. Learning Children’s Mathematics Topics to be covered will include: - Typical counting activities of pre-numerical children - Typical activities associated with the development of an Initial Number Sequence (e.g. counting on, enactive addition) - Typical activities associated with the development of a Tacitly Nested Number Sequence (e.g. double counting, additive problem solving, enactive multiplication, enactive quotitive division, initial measurement activities) - Typical activities associated with the development of an Explicitly Nested Number Sequence (e.g. multiplicative problem solving, partitive division, part-whole reasoning, simple fraction problems, measurement problems) - Typical activities associated with the development of a Generalized Number Sequence (e.g. Operations on fractions, fraction families, simplifying fractions, ratio and proportional reasoning, measurement in 2 and 3 dimensions, exponential reasoning) - Typical activities associated with children’s spatial development (e.g., walking out pathways for open and closed figures, recognition of special shapes and solids, classification of shapes and solids, exploring properties of shapes and solids through dynamic software as well as concrete objects) - Typical activities associated with children’s logical development (e.g. sorting and classifying, order relations, difference relations, equivalence relations, transitive reasoning).