Today, math classrooms have gone beyond the cliche image of a teacher standing in front of a whiteboard with a textbook. Thanks to the advent of edtech, more schools and educators are gradually integrating technology into their math classrooms. With math Brighterly.com lessons, online math courses have dominated the scene, lessening the need for a brick-and-mortar classroom.
However, this new development poses a pertinent question for math teachers and educators worldwide. In what ways can technology be integrated into the math classroom? Perhaps, more importantly, why should you use technology to teach kids mathematics? In this guide, we’ll explore these crucial questions. Let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we?
Why Use Technology in the Classroom?
If you’re wondering why technology should be used to teach kids math, here are some benefits of integrating these tools in the classroom:
Technology provides teachers with tons of learning tools to support students
Learning isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. To fully accommodate all students, you’ll need to incorporate a wide range of tools and learning styles. Fortunately, technology makes this goal achievable. Whether your students are visual or auditory learners, technology helps you to cater to all their learning needs. Students will be able to access tons of online content, from videos and audiobooks to educational games.
Consequently, students get to learn more efficiently and perform better in math. In fact, according to stats released by McKinsey & Company, students in the United States perform better in reading when both a teacher and students use devices in the classroom. This fact just goes to show that technology is immensely beneficial to the learning process.
It makes students active participants in the classroom.
Most traditional classrooms are set up so that there are clear-cut roles. A teacher disseminates information while students receive said information. While this method ensures that students learn, there’s no opportunity for student participation. As a result, students become passive participants and recoil into their shells. They don’t engage with the learning material or a teacher.
Fortunately, technology changes everything and boosts student participation. Students actively engage with the learning material in real time with tools like interactive videos and games. For instance, with educational math games, students can try out puzzles and activities that test their knowledge of the topic. This enhances the learning process and boosts their assimilation of topics.
Technology offers personalized learning opportunities
Technology makes learning more accessible for all students. With the right tools, anyone can get 24/7 access to educational resources. Students can either learn in person or take lessons online with a laptop or mobile device. What’s more, tutors can use technology to tailor lessons and lesson plans for each student. Similarly, students can learn at their own pace without feeling overwhelmed or self-conscious. For instance, they can rewatch videos or save online content for later.
Different Ways to Use Technology in Math Classrooms
If you’re confused about how to use technology to teach math, here are some creative ideas worth implementing:
Use Brighterly to boost math learning
If you want to supplement your curriculum with math courses online, you might want to check out Brighterly. Brighterly is an online math learning platform for kids in pre-k, kindergarten, and grades 1-8. This platform is a prime choice for teachers and parents who want their kids to learn mathematics online. It helps children understand core math concepts and the ways to apply them to real life. More importantly, this edtech tool stirs a genuine curiosity and love for math.
With Brighterly, students learn math through personalized one-on-one lessons with expert tutors. Teachers use tons of worksheets, interactive videos, and educational games to teach core math concepts. By incorporating this edtech tool into your arsenal, you’ll not only be bolstering your kid’s knowledge of math, but you’ll also be taking some of the burden off your shoulders.
Try out Kahoot in the classroom
Looking to try out technology when teaching math to your kids? Why not try out Kahoot? Kahoot is an interactive multiplayer game that can be used to increase student participation and engagement in the classroom. This tool presents multiple-choice questions to students in the same classroom and lets them answer said questions.
Here’s how it works: teachers search for premade math questions and answers on Kahoot. Alternatively, you can create your own questions and answers. However, this option is only available on the paid version of Kahoot. Once you’ve selected your questions, you then project them onto a screen in the classroom. Your students select the answer on their respective devices. The highest-scoring students get a special feature on the screen before you move on to the next question. Sounds fun and engaging, doesn’t it?
Use online math games
In the last decade, several studies have shown that challenge-based games can improve students’ academic performance by up to 89%. Thus, integrating math games into your curriculum is a great way to keep students engaged and boost their math performance.
Fortunately, there are tons of math games available on the internet. For instance, you could try Prodigy, an interactive math game that lets kids explore a fantastical world by solving math problems. You could also try out Math Playground if you want to explore more options.
Incorporate YouTube videos into the classroom
YouTube is yet another tech tool that’s great for teaching math to kids. It’s an excellent source of interactive math videos that would teach your kids core math concepts and keep them engaged till the very end. For instance, you can access channels like Khan Academy on YouTube, where you get tons of free educational videos and games. The best part? YouTube is primarily free, meaning you can take advantage of technology without breaking the bank.
Final Thoughts
Are you looking to teach online math lessons for 4th-grade students and other grade levels? Try integrating tech tools in your classroom. These resources will help to bolster student engagement and improve their academic performance. We hope this guide helps.
