Dr. Dugan
Summer 2009
Internet Resources for Mathematics
The Twenty-first century requires new ways of dealing with increasing amounts of information and it also requires new ways of transferring that new information into knowledge. Our role as teachers is to no longer be the transmitters of knowledge but to be the messengers or providers of knowledge. Teachers who view education as the transmission of knowledge usually use ‘old school" teaching methods like lecture, writing problems on the board, practice worksheets and memorizing. This new age requires that teachers will no longer be the main sources of information. Teachers will now need to take a more constructivist role and partner with students in the learning process. With the invention of the Internet, a whole new world has become available to learners, both teachers and students.
The Internet compliments the teaching process in many ways. When thinking about how the Internet can assist in the teaching process, most teachers immediately think of how it impacts students. As teachers we must also think of how it will enhance our teaching. There are many ways in which the Internet helps teachers teach such as:
- It provides students with motivation. Everyone works better when they are motivated either to clean up their room to go play or by taking classes to get a promotion at work. The Internet also helps to motivate those students who are bored by the traditional ways of teaching.
- The use of the Internet allows students to use information in different ways which increases the assimilation of knowledge. The Internet is a great source for re-enforcement.
- The Internet can be used to help teachers make better lesson plans and have more efficient planning times. The vast amount of knowledge that can be found on the Internet enables teachers to create more creative, interesting and balanced lesson plans. Writing, critical thinking, problem-solving and discovery can be part of every lesson. Lessons that incorporate these skills allow students to participate in the learning process but also enable students to create their own knowledge. There are hundred of websites that have lessons like these and they are able to be downloaded for free.
- The Internet is also a great way for parents to get connected to their child’s school. Parents can see homework assignments and know the status of their child’s grades at any time. The Internet also enables teachers and parents to interact more quickly and to not play "phone tag" trying to contact each other.
The Internet is a tool to help teachers teach but it is also a great tool to assist in the learning process. When students are using the Internet, they are in a more active role as opposed to the passive role they are in when using textbooks or in lectures. The Internet gives students the tools they need for self-discovery and here are some very important reasons why student should be encouraged to use the Internet in their learning process.
- Using the Internet is very exciting and motivating to students, young and old. Teachers need to use this interest and excitement to our advantage. The Internet allows students to have access to learning games/activities/ resources not found in the classroom or at home.
- As we are increasingly becoming aware, our world is becoming a global community. The Internet allows for communication and collegiality between students, schools, states and countries. This was not possible before the Internet. Instead of reading about a famous mathematician, students can actually talk to them and ask questions of them via the Internet.
- The Internet allows for almost instant access to information. Students in the poorest of countries have the same access to information as students from the richest of countries; the only thing necessary is an internet connection.
- The Internet is a perfect vehicle for cooperative learning. Students can work together without the worry of distance limitations.
- The Internet has the unique ability to teach children through play. There are hundreds of websites that have learning games for students of all ages. The Internet can be the perfect marriage of learning and play.
While the Internet is important for teaching and learning in the twenty-first century, it doesn’t come without drawbacks such as:
- It is very easy for students to access inappropriate websites. Teachers must prepare and be vigilant.
- Using the internet effectively takes time and preparation. Teachers need to do a lot of research before using the Internet in their lessons.
- The socio-economic status of students should also be considered before using the Internet for out of school assignments. Students from low-income homes may or may not have computers and access to the Internet. Teachers must be mindful of this and make alternate arrangements.
- The Internet is free and accessible to anyone with internet access. Thieves, criminals and other questionable people can contact students online. Students must educated as to the dangers and teachers must always monitor student online activity in school.
The official position of the National Council of Teacher of Mathematics concerning technology in education is:
"Technology is an essential tool for learning mathematics in the 21st century, and all schools must ensure that all their students have access to technology. Effective teachers maximize the potential of technology to develop students’ understanding, stimulate their interest, and increase their proficiency in mathematics. When technology is used strategically, it can provide access to mathematics for all students."
The use of the Internet cannot replace conceptual understanding, computational fluency or problem solving skills. The Internet should be part of a balanced mathematics program. Teachers will not be replaced by the Internet because teachers determine how technology is best applied in the classroom. Teachers, and mathematics teachers in particular, must continually update their professional development in order to keep abreast of new technologies and available programs and websites. Teachers need to be open to learning these new technologies because not only will it help students to learn more in the classroom now but to be more marketable and competitive in our future global community.
Internet Resources for Teachers
Brain Pop
http://www.brainpop.com/math/seeall.weml
Short animation movies on math topics
Flashcards for Kids
http://edu4kids.com/math/
Basic online practice
Fun Mathematics lessons by Cynthia Lanius
http://www.math.rice.edu
K-12 math lessons on topics like ratio, fraction, and graphs
National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
http://nctm.org
Math principles and standards, FAQ’s and links to other resources
The Math Forum
http://www.forum.swarthmore.edu
Math problems of the week, Dr. Math to receive and answer?’s, math lessons K-12+
PBS Mathline
http://www.pbs.org
Online math lessons and activities organized by grade level and category
Go Math
http://www.gomath.com
Everything math-Ask an expert, homework help, calculators, converters, test prep. Put in topic and get a list of resources.
Internet4Classrooms
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/math
Everything math-power point presentations, videos, interactive lessons, and quizzes
Mathematical Resources
http://www.members.stratos.net/jetta/math1.html
An online catalog of Internet site organized into categories: lesson plans K-12, software, newsgroups, and listservs
A+ Math
http://www.aplusmath.com
Math flashcard creator, math game, homework helper
Math Forum from Drexel University
http://www.mathforum.org
Resources, materials, person-to-person interactions, educational services and products
Math goodies
http://www.mathgoodies.com
Math lesson, homework help, worksheets, puzzles that meet NCTM standards
Math Stories
http://www.mathstories.com
2,000+ math word problems for grades 1-5, with answers provided
Word Problems for Kids
http://www.stfx.ca/special/mathproblems/welcome/html
Single step and multiple step word problems based on real world dilemmas, grades 5-12
Math Teacher Link
http://MTL.math.uiuc.edu/
Online classroom resources for algebra, geometry, calculus and probability
Fun Brain
http://www.funbrain.com
An interactive site with problem solving to play math baseball and car racing, K-8
Algebra Story and Word Problems
http://www.2hawaii.edu/suremath/intro_algebra.html
Problem solving in all subjects that use mathematics for problem solving: algebra, physics, chemistry, K-Grad school
Learning Open
http://gs260.sp.cs.cmu/LearningOpen2003
Instructional strategies that achieve high levels of student learning on average. Uses pre and post measures to assess student achievement.
Free Algebra Tutor
http://www.algebratutor.org
Various word problems
Lessons to motivate underachievers
http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/mccall/mainlesson.html
What math teachers can do to interest and motivate learners?
Ask Mr. Calculus
http://www.geocities.com
Help with calculus, trigonometry, geometry and algebra. Sample AP Calculus problems and solutions
Educational REALMS
http://stemworks.org
Lesson plans and links about Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education
Figure This!
http://figurethis.org
Funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, this site is a series of fun problem solving challenges
Bamdad’s Comics
http://www.csun.edu/~hcmth014/comics/html
This site offers comics that help break the ice when introducing a new topic
High School Math
http://www.mathforum.org/teachers
High school hub-Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus
Math League
http://www.mathleague.com
Educational math contests, problem books and math software
Web cast Matrix
http://www.webquest.sdsu.edu/matrix.html
Explore webcasts in math for grades k-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 or adult
Tessellations
http://www.forum.swarthmore.edu/sum95/suzanne/tess.gsp.tutorial.html
Tessellation tutor
Technology for teaching
http://www.linus.gmu.edu
Everything for education
Polyhedra and manipulatives
http://www.math.utah.edu
A site for regular, three-dimensional polyhedra
Mathematics-teaching related sites
http://www.ams.org/new-in-math/museums.html
American Mathematical Society list of mathematics related virtual exhibits
http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/html.f/resource.xml
A list of websites for teaching various topics in mathematics
American Math Society
http://www.ams.org/notices/199502/devlin.pdf
An index from the NCTM of software reviews and related columns
The New Math
http://www.nas.edu/sputnik/index.htm
From a symposium at the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, 1997. Includes educational reform movements including New Math
Ed.gov
http://www.ed.gov/databases/EIRC_Digests/ed433192html
Technology in mathematics education: Internet Resources
NCTM Math Standards
http://www.standards.nctm.org-
Principles and standards for school mathematics
Math League
http://www.mathleague.com
Online math contests with solutions, grades 5-12
Interactive Math
http://www.matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/vlibrary.html
Tools and activities for number and operations, Algebra, Geometry and Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability
Brain Teasers
http://www.eduplace.com/math/brain
Weekly brain teaser math puzzles
Illuminations
http://www.illuminations.nctm.org
A NCTM site devoted to providing Internet resources to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in grades PK-12
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