Sharing Good Practice
Using technology effectively to engage the STEM student
By Dr . Jason Johnson make sense of a real-world scenario . Another example is to use a moviemaking app to create a movie to explain photosynthesis .
The 21st century has changed the way teachers teach . There is undoubtedly an increase in the use of technology . When it comes to teaching with technology , there are two types of technologies – content specific and content neutral . Content specific technologies are technologies that are specific to a certain subject area , such is the case of mathematics , graphing calculator , Geometer ’ s Sketch Pad , and Mable . Content neutral technologies are technologies that are not specific to one subject area , but rather they are used to allow students to make sense of a certain learning objective . Example technologies are document camera , multimedia projector , interactive whiteboard , and some mobile learning apps .
Technology to support learning in STEM is critical to students ' success .
The purpose of this article is to provide STEM teachers with helpful hints to integrate technology effectively . The motivation to use technology depends on the desired outcome .
Four types of motivation to use technology are :
Stimulate curiosity
When technology is used to stimulate curiosity , the student typically initiates conjectures about an event . Sometimes these conjectures can be examined without the use of technology . However , some students may have trouble with content , while missing the point of examining the conjectures . Allowing students opportunities to examine their curiosity with technology , allows students to focus on their curiosity , rather than get lost in content . One example is to use Geometer ’ s Sketchpad to investigate the sum of the three angles of a triangle . Another example is to use Vernier Technology to determine if a bridge breaks at a beam or joint first .
Promote problem solving
Students working with non-routine problems , is a goal for many STEM teachers . Students use technology when working with larger numbers and / or real-world scenarios . Typically , a desire of problem solving is to allow students opportunities to demonstrate their analytical ability . Technology can be used to help facilitate this for the students . One example is to use a graphing calculator to graph data to
Make connections
Students make connections in every STEM subject . Making connections is a way for students to make sense of new content . Students refer to an idea that she / he knows , then new content is added on . Using technology is a great way for students to explore what is already known and let the technology take that exploration to the next level . One example is to use the free software program SketchUp7 to allow students to create 3D designs based on parameters and recreate the same design with modified parameters . Another example is to input data into Microsoft Excel to explore correlation and R-squared .
Assessment
When students ’ complete assessments ( i . e ., unit test , quiz , Advanced Placement ( AP ), International Baccalaureate ( IB ), Scholastic Aptitude Test ( SAT ), or American College Test ( ACT ) with the aid of technology , the technology allows the students to arrive to a solution quicker and able to show higher order thinking . Most assessments are timed and not every student works at the same speed . AP and IB programs , along with such assessments as the SAT and ACT highly encourage students to use technology when appropriate . One example typically associated with the IB HL curriculum is to ask students to write the inverse of a matrix and solve simultaneous equations . Of course , both can be accomplished using pencil and paper , however , with the aid of a graphing calculator ; a solution is arrived at , much quicker . Another example , found in the AP Biology curriculum , is for students to calculate chi square value to the nearest hundredths . To answer , a four-function calculator with a square-root feature is all that is needed .
32 | May - Jun 2017 | | Class Time