Technology in Mathematics Classrooms :: Education School

engineering science ViewsNCTM summarizes the technology regulation by saying, technology is essentialin teaching and learning mathematics it influences the mathematics that is taught andenhances students learning. Im not sure that I agree with the entirety of this statement. applied science is important it allows students to quickly make connections that would belost without the speed and precision of computers. Technology also allows forthoughtless reproduction of facts already known. Imagine how long it would take tosolve a college level mathematics problem without the aid of calculators for division,multiplication, exponents, and logarithms. Although I tone that technology is animportant tool for enhancing mathematics, I feel that technology is replacing thefoundation required for understanding mathematics.I am a firm worshipper that mathematics is more of an ability to solve problems thanit is a solution to a given problem. Students must be required to think mathematically for themselves if they are to be successful at mathematics. All too often, math is reduced toformulas and specific ways of solving problems. I believe that meaning and reason arethe devil most important qualities of mathematics. Without these tools, mathematics mayas well be left out of schools.I feel that it is vital for students to learn the why out front they learn shortcuts.Imagine a test without calculators in a high school class. Most students would experiencegreat difficulty in working with unprejudiced operations such as division. (Fractions may infact be the work of Satan in the minds of some students). It is of the utmost importancefor students to learn how to approach path problems without the aid of technology. The greatminds of the gone did not have computers, calculators, or even chalk boards yet, theywere able to develop a world of reason that we call mathematics. If past scholars coulddo complex proofs without the aid of todays technological advancements, I do not t hinkit is nonsensical to expect a student of algebra to be able to graph a function with penciland paper.Although many may feel I have focused on what is wrong with technology, theyare mistaken. Technology itself is a good thing it is only through poor instruction thattechnology becomes a vice. The most important word that NCTM uses to summarize itstechnology principle is enhance. Technology is meaningless without properinstruction, but with an excellent guide, the mathematical possibilities are endless.According to NCTM, Students can learn more mathematics more deeply with the conquer and responsible use of technology. It is necessary for technology to be usedappropriately and responsibly. Teachers cannot just give a student a calculator and