Pros & Cons
With everything in life, there should be balance and moderation. Long gone are the days of projectors and vis-a-vis pens. Students in this day and age relate to technology. It does play an important part in getting students excited about learning.
Yet, it has to have its place. It can’t be the central means of learning. I believe that we cannot just follow the one to one and iPad device trend we’ve been seeing in math. Overall, Google classrooms & digital practices are not better for math students. In fact, they can actually be seen as drawbacks in a math-specific classroom. Don’t get me wrong, technology is great, especially when it comes to applets that show mathematical concepts. I love to use hands-on software like GeoGebra, where students can drag vertices, see relationships, and make discoveries. Technology can be great for introducing or exploring big-picture concepts. Online models can also be helpful. They are far more convenient than distributing fraction pieces or algebra tiles, and can sometimes show ideas more clearly than the tangible models can. These apps can be extremely helpful for students but we need to be careful that we don't let them take over the classroom. They are not always beneficial, and can even be a hinderance in situations when we need students to get pencil-and paper notes, practice algebra work line by line, or work with diagrams. Blending the Two
The best model is to “blend” learning - combine tech with hands on or paper-based teaching.
Students will get the most out of a lesson if tech is used only when it enhances the lesson, not dominates it. Practicing concepts by hand on paper is irreplaceable in the math classroom. It’s not only a more effective means of showing the work, it is also more effective for student retention. The connections the brain makes when the hands are writing is stronger than it is with technology. Resisting the "Paperless" Trend
This can be seen in a study published in Psychological Science by Pam Mueller & Daniel Oppenheimer of Princeton University and UCLA. Several students wrote out their notes either by hand or on a laptop. The study found that the students that wrote their notes by hand actually learned more. Their memory was tested for factual detail, conceptual comprehension, and synthesizing capabilities.
While the students who used laptops ended up with more words from the lecture in their notes, their understanding of the concepts were weaker than the students that hand wrote their notes (source). And this study is actually a great illustration of Robert A. Bjork’s 20 year old concept, “desirable difficulty.” It simply states that sometimes, doing things the easy way actually hinders our ability to learn. Obstacles that frustrate us help us learn. While technology can make note taking and learning seem easier and more fun, it takes away the challenge and creativity. One of the main challenges in handwriting notes is discerning what information to take down. A method like visual note taking is another way to help students retain information. Students can feel empowered when taking down notes by hand, in charge of the information they are learning as well as how it is presented on their notes, taking them to another level of engagement in the lesson. Tech Devices Have Their Place...
It would be a disservice to our students to eliminate all technology from the classroom. After all, this is the 21st century. Having tech savvy skills is a necessity for success in the workforce. That’s why we do need to incorporate iPads, laptops, and apps. It is important that students understand the place technology has in the world.
And it is truly that simple, the technology in the classroom has its place. We cannot simply turn all classrooms into a high tech, digital world. Math assignments and notes have to continue to take place on paper. The convenience of Google Drive, typing and tablets are not meant to replace the traditional classroom, only enhance it. ...But Don't Ignore the Concerns
Remember that these “conveniences” are not always a benefit. They can actually become pretty inconvenient challenges. It takes forever for teens to type into a computerized equation editor. To try to work with exponents, fractions, and radicals on a computer screen wastes so much valuable class time or homework time. It takes away from the flow of the learning experience.
I also feel really sorry for students who are not even given textbooks anymore. Some schools expect them to only access their text online. This is a big challenge in math, where we use problems from the book. Kids are now restricted to places with internet access and can no longer do homework on the bus or while waiting for sports games. It's important to keep the focus on tech as an enhancement to a lesson, and not lose the benefits of hands-on activities and paper / pencil learning in math class. What are your feelings on technology in the classroom? Do you feel your students’ learning experience is being hindered or heightened by the increasing role the digital age plays in education? Share how you feel in the comments below, or give any tips you have to share if you have found that balance that blends digital and paper just right! To Read Next:
15 Comments
1/28/2017 07:49:36 am
Hi Charlee!
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AAZ
1/28/2021 08:12:50 am
Yes, a very interesting blog (which validates my own personal experience as a homeschool "teacher").
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Michele Spitzmiller
2/1/2017 09:39:33 pm
My geometry classroom is 1 to 1 with Chromebooks. Students have a digital copy of their textbook which can be viewed offline. Some homework assignments are drill in nature and are done on-line, some assignments are using the eText which students will work in their paper notebooks and upload a photo of when they return the next day to school. Many assignments are collaborative in nature and technology truly facilitates this. Technology has allowed more real-world applications and investigations in geometry that were not possible before. It is not a question of a Digital Classroom vs Math by Hand but one of Math by Hand finding it's place in the Digital Classroom. People communicate digitally why would we not teach them to communicate about math digitally?
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2/2/2017 04:31:10 pm
Hi Michele,
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Nan
2/7/2017 09:18:01 am
I agree with you! I would like to add the benefits from a teaching grading stand point. When grading papers I leave notes on problems that have minor mistakes that I may forget to address when we are back in class. When a student really nails a hard problem I like to leave them a smiley face, it makes them proud.
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2/7/2017 04:07:51 pm
Awesome point, Nan!
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Sue-Ann
3/8/2017 09:37:46 pm
I'm not an educator, so am interested to hear from others who have more classroom exposure -- I absolutely agree that pencil and paper interactions with math are much faster and easier, but also recognize that more educational content is moving online (especially for things like standardized tests).
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3/11/2017 06:15:40 pm
Hey Sue-Ann,
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Rhonda
7/31/2017 12:07:23 am
One of the keys is the ability to handwrite on the computer. I have a student who uses a tablet with a stylus to do his homework. No paper but it's still handwritten. 6/26/2017 11:24:33 am
Came across your article recently - love the way you explained this! I'm one of the founders of the Formative Loop math program where students practice skills on paper, but then the teachers grade on the computer to make it individualized. We're always surprised that this pencil/paper approach has such a big impact on students' learning compared to fully digital programs (which is frankly what we initially designed!). Just wanted to say thanks for the great post!
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7/8/2017 10:53:53 am
Hi Dustin,
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7/10/2017 10:37:47 pm
We'd love to have you check it out! You can sign up for a free trial at http://formativeloop.com - love to get your feedback! 11/16/2020 10:09:22 pm
Great article! I learn so much things on your page.
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12/3/2020 02:04:42 am
Digital classroom vs math by hand, we can find here wonderful papers and developing the more educational methods as well. Generating here a lot of thoughts on more helping reviews with us.
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