I have also seen Forms used for the same idea. I was able to put together a review activity where students were presented multiple choice questions on one slide at a time. If they choose the correct answer, they will be sent directly to the next question slide. However, if they choose any of the incorrect answers (here’s where the immediate feedback comes in), they are sent to a separate slide containing an example from our notes of a similar problem. Once they review the help from our notes, they are sent back to the question to try again. Creating this activity did take a bit of time and effort, but it was more than worth it! Being able to provide interactive material that incorporates notes and work that we did together in class is a fantastic combination for their engagement and recall.
Outside of creating your own resources, there are endless options of web tools that can be used in similar, sometimes even more efficient, ways.
The first tool that I’d like to highlight is DeltaMath. I came across DeltaMath around the beginning of the 2021-22 school year and was initially impressed with the enormous catalog of content, spanning from 6th grade all the way through calculus and computer science. I taught Algebra I and Geometry this past year and I have yet to come across any concepts we were teaching that DeltaMath didn’t have a question bank for. This has been a great resource for entrance and exit tickets, quick formative assessments, in-class check-ins, or even assigning homework. A bonus on the teaching side is the gradebook feature that can be viewed in a number of different ways.
Graspable Math is another tool that deserves a highlight. If you’ve ever taught any level of Algebra, you know the misconceptions and learning difficulties that often come with solving equations and factoring. These are the two main concepts that Graspable Math has found its way into my classroom. Whether you use it to do examples for your students or have students work through problems on their own, allowing students to visually see the physical combining and factoring of terms in both the solution and factoring processes is a feature I think we have all been searching for! This tool is great to use alongside in-class activities and discussions, as well as have students use as a resource when working individually.
As I’m sure most math teachers would agree, writing out solutions processes and putting pencil to paper is a part of math that cannot be eliminated. However, using these tools, as well as others like them, is not intended to replace anything in the math classroom. Rather, it is all meant to enhance engagement and deeper learning. Too many students rely on memorizing rules and procedures during their time in math classes just so they can “get-by.”
Technology integration in the math classroom is aimed at deepening these understandings, helping students to learn at a more theoretical and conceptual level through presentation and engagement across a wide range of learning styles. I encourage all of you to start searching for tools that both you and your students enjoy and are comfortable working with!
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