Math, Technology, & Differentiation

thinker When you think of an airplane, you may get a particular image in your mind. However there are many different kinds of airplanes. Since the introduction of Math Blasters over 20 years ago, many teachers still associate the computer with drill and practice. However there are many ways to use technology in mathematics instruction. The key is flexible thinking. Each child learns differently. Some will be successful with manipulatives, while others find computer tools, photographs, or real-world data engaging.

Let's explore three ways to think about math and technology:

Math Practice
Math Tools
Real-world Math

Math Practice

With endless patience and unlimited examples, the computer is a great tool to help students practice math concepts. The key is matching the needs of the learner with meaningful resources.

Grades PreK-1	Barney Color, Shapes, & Numbers from PBS Kids Caillou Match the Leaves and Puzzle from PBS Kids Connect to the World from PBS Kids Counting Cheese with Murry from Pauly's Games CyberPatterns Dragon Tales Connect Dots and Shapes from PBS Kids Early Math Games from PBS Kids Learning Games from BBC CBeebies - Kindergarten Learning Shapes with Krog from Pauly's Games Lost Babies Movie Matching Shapes with Krog from Pauly's Games Mend the Number Square Sesame Street from PBS Kids Sesame Street Worksho p Snakes and Ladders Sound Memory Game from Pauly's Games
Grades K-1	Addition Machine from Ambleweb Arthur Games from PBS Kids - Aliens Assembly Required - Virtual Goose Bang on Time Count Hoot's Number Games from BBC - Addition, Subtraction Early Math Games from PBS Kids Flash Cards for Beginners (Add & Subtract 1-10) from Pauly's Games Play a Game from Number Time BBC Professor Finkle's Adding Machine from Pauly's Games Speed Grid Challenge - Addition Speed Grid Challenge - Subtraction Starship Math from BBC Stop the Clock 1 - T1/2 hour intervals Stop the Clock 2 - 15 minute intervals Stop the Clock 3 - 5 minute intervals Stop the Clock 4 - minute Stop the Clock 5 - minute Stop the Clock - matching times Sum Sense- Addition - Figuring out addition problems Sum Sense- Subtraction - Figuring out subtraction problems Subtraction Machine from Ambleweb Utah Education Network
Grades 2-3	Addition Machine from Ambleweb Banana Hunt - angles Billy Bug - learn coordinates Billy Bug 2 - learn coordinates Cyberchase from PBSKids - Problem solving (Grades 3-5) Early Math Games from PBS Kids Estimate Fraction Flags: Halves and Quarters Fraction Flags: Thirds Ghost Blasters Ghost Blasters 100 Ghost Blasters II Ghost Blaster Operation Even Ghost Blaster Operation Odd Spooky Sequences - Triangular Numbers Spooky Sequences - Square Numbers Spooky Sequences by ones Spooky Sequences by twos Spooky Sequences by threes Spooky Sequences by 1's Spooky Sequences by 2's Spooky Sequences by 5's Spooky Sequences by 10's Spooky Sequences backward by 1's Spooky Sequences backward by 2's Spooky Sequences backward by 5's Spooky Sequences backward by 10's Guess the Number - Halving and Estimation Multiplication Mystery Speed Grid Challenge - Addition Level 2 Speed Grid Challenge - Addition Level 3 Speed Grid Challenge - Subtraction Level 2 Speed Grid Challenge - Subtraction Level 3 Speed Grid Multiplication Subtraction Machine from Ambleweb Sum Sense- Multiplication - Figuring out multiplication problems Sum Sense- Division - Figuring out division problems Times Tables from BBC Tables Tester from Ambleweb What2Learn Math Interactives Utah Education Network
Grades 4-5	Cyberchase from PBSKids - Problem solving Division Machine from Ambleweb It's My Life from PBS Kids Math Interactives from wickED Measuring Angles What2Learn Math Interactives Middle School Polygon Dissection Gallery Sorting Bricks and Sticks Truth and Beauty Math Interactives
All	Are You A Math Magician? - By Problem Type Button Beach Challenge Fun Brain Math - By Grade Level Illustrated Lessons from LINKS - contain great short videos Internet4 Classrooms Links - First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth Grade Learning Box - Base10 Logical Thinking - Powerlines Levels 1, 2, 3

Experiment!
Compare web-based activities from two different developers above. How do they compare? Compare online math practice with off-computer practice. Select one website and brainstorm classroom management issues.

Math Tools

math tools From pebbles to the abacus, people throughout history have used tools to help with calculation. Today, many tools are available for students to help them manipulate and visualize math concepts. Provide different tools to address individual ways of thinking about calculation and mathematical representations.

The Standards Site: Interactive Teaching Resources from UK has lots of great online tools to try.

Grades K-3	Analog Clock Number Facts Ordering Numbers Place Value Sort Shape by Color and Shape Sort Shapes by Angles Sort Triangles and other Shapes Tell the Time
Grades 4-5	Calculating Angles Decimal Number Line Multiplication Grid Number Line Sort Shapes by Angles Twenty Cards
All	Area Grid Tool Counting on a 100-bead String Fractions Grouping Isometric Grid Line Graph Measuring Cylinder Measuring Scale Number Dial Number Grid Ruler Symmetry Thermometer
Other Tools	Base 10 Blocks Decifractator from Ambleside Primary Decimal Number Line from Maths Online Fraction Paint - Fraction Paint 2x2 - Fraction Paint 3x3 - Fraction Paint 4x4 - Fraction Paint 5x5 - Fraction Paint 6x6 Frog in the Wall Function Machine Grapher - great a great graph! Heads or Tails Histogram Make a Bar Chart Math Cats Multiplication Percentage Pain Splat Square 0-99 Splat Square 1-100 Super Sequencer

Experiment!
Explore at least five online tools (above) that help students work with math concepts. What off-computer activities are needed to guide the use of this tool? Will you print sample screens? Will you provide problems to solve? How will these tools be introduced in a large-group settings? How will individual students access the tools?
Pick one tool to explore indepth. Design a Word-based activity to will get students started using this tool. Brainstorm sample problems.

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Real-world Data & Creative Math

real Combine real objects and manipulatives with computers and digital cameras. Some students see math as endless strings of numbers. Help them see the relevance of math in everyday life. Try FlyBy Math for example of math in Air Traffic Control (Grades 5-9).

Go to Math Hunt from Scholastic (Grade 5) for examples of how to integrate websites and make problems.

Ask students to create their own story problems and authentic math situations. Use the resources below to get started thinking about creative math problems.

Disaster Math from FEMA for Kids
escrapbooking: Data and statistics
- Air Now Air Quality
- EarthQuakes
Math Cats Story Problems
Math in Daily Life

Experiment!
Go to the National Math Trail and examine the submissions by state. Design an activity that involves students writing their own math problems and using digital cameras to visualize math.

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Developed by Annette Lamb, 3/06.