What the resource is:
The resource is a
Teachers TV video highlighting a Mathematical Association project developed to support mathematics teachers tackling hard to teach subjects through the use of ICT. The programme features three different teachers working in their classrooms looking at different KS3 topics of mathematics, supported by two project leaders from the Mathematical Association.
The programme includes a brief clip of the teachers from the project coming together to share ideas and work they were developing for their own pupils. This provides the background for the three clips of different classrooms tackling very different areas of mathematics.
The first clip shows a Y9 class using dynamic geometry software to investigate circle theorems. The lesson has differentiated activities for groups of pupils utilising varying levels of scaffolding of circle theorem proofs. The footage includes pupils' comments on their strategies for tackling the tasks, and their opinions on the value of using the software to explore the geometry of circles.
The second clip looks at another Year 9 class, this time all girls, using a dynamic geometry package to support their understanding and visualisation of three-dimensional shapes. The lesson uses a mixture of class demonstration using an interactive whiteboard and then paired work on laptops. The teacher emphasises the use of bookwork to support the hands-on investigational work.
The final clip is that of an algebra lesson, looking at representations of sequences using handheld technology. The pupils are exploring equations of sequences using graphical calculators. Towards the end of the lesson, the multiple representations of sequences are combined in a poster and the pupils are asked to summarise their learning.
A feature of all three clips is a discussion by the class teacher and project leader as to the merits and effectiveness of the different strategies used to ensure the ICT is used to maximum effect within the lesson.
The aims of the resource:
The resource aims to highlight the effectiveness of ICT to support and motivate learners of mathematics. In particular, traditional harder topics of algebra and geometry are used in the clip to demonstrate the potential of technology to enhance understanding. The associated resources offer additional ideas and support for teachers looking for new ways to teach mathematical topics and for those who want to develop pupils' use of ICT in their classrooms.
Key findings or focus:
The key focus of the programme is the way in which the use of ICT by pupils can be a powerful way to extend and enhance pupils' understanding of difficult topics. The immediacy of the technology to respond to ‘What if?' questions allows for a greater level of exploratory work in a lesson. Pupils have the chance to very quickly play around with ideas; changing angles within circles, plotting equations to see if they match the sequences. The ability to alter data and variables and to observe the changes caused is a very powerful learning tool and comes across in all three classrooms. The classroom footage reveals high levels of engagement with the tasks and models a variety of good practice including differentiated tasks, variety of whole class and grouped work. All of the teachers agree on the benefits of using ICT to complement and extend their teaching repertoire.
The quality, authority and credibility of the resource from your subject perspective in relation to ITE:
The quality of the video is very good. The ideas presented offer good examples of how to effectively integrate the use of ICT into mathematics lessons. It also provides a variety of teaching styles and approaches to the use of ICT. The accompanying additional resources are very useful and are of high quality, including links to the websites of the Mathematical Association and Association of Mathematics Teachers (AMT) who were involved in the project.
The implications for ITE tutors/mentors:
The resource could be of valuable use to ITE tutors in their taught programmes as it offers good examples of how to use ICT effectively in the classroom. It also gives good examples of differentiated activities and strategies for involving group and paired work. The footage also contains useful dialogues between pupils which would be illuminative for beginning teachers.
The relevance to ITE students:
Trainees need to see good examples of teaching and learning strategies employed in mathematics classrooms. This resource provides these, and in particular focuses on the use of ICT by pupils rather than by the class teacher. This is an area where trainee teachers need greater support and encouragement. They need to not only be able to use the ICT competently themselves, but also ensure they develop their pupils' skills by allowing them opportunities to work with laptops and handheld devices. The footage provides good examples to encourage such developments.
References:
Edwards, J.A. and Wright, D. (2006) Integrating ICT into the mathematics classroom. Derby: ATM
Johnston-Wilder, S. and Pimm, D. (2005) Teaching Secondary Mathematics with ICT. OUP
Oldknow, A. and Taylor, R. (2004) Teaching Mathematics Using ICT. Continuum Press
Reviewed by:
Sue Cronin