My Weekly Report and Reflection #5

    This week, there was a clear connection to the online resources (visual aids) and manipulations while answering mathematical problems. During class time, we went through a lot of online mathematical resources such as GeoGebra, that could be used within the classroom setting, giving students a visual, and a manipulation for algebraic problems. These students were able to manipulate the shape that they made with respect to the co-ordinate graph. If the students had to do this by hand, there would be no way for them to figure out the interior angles as quickly as this app does. The picture below represents the segments and shapes that you can manipulate using this resource.

Retieved from: https://www.geogebra.org/images/landingpage/landingpage-icons-tryout.png, on October 12, 2016

     During this class, we discussed a lot of different topics with regards to differentiation within the classroom, and methods to help students with memorization and mathematical equations. This lesson was extremely difficult for me to understand, because I understand mathematical problems with writing them out on paper, in order to make sense of them. With this UDL (universal design for learning), it often comes with a couple of road bumps. Some of these road bumps include, not taking into account all of the"outdated" ways of learning such as the old fashioned "pen-and-paper" method. Students who are used to having  a visual representation in front of them are now forced to make sense out of a diagram displayed on the overhead projector. Another possible road bump is not having access to technology within the classroom, and not singling any student out for not having a technological device.  

Retrieved from: https://z4zao2x5yv31zz19n46kfiid-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/17125152.jpg, on October 12, 2016

      Overall, the main message behind this lesson, is that there are useful applications of using technology within the classroom to supplement your lesson. There are many other ways to answering math questions than the traditional "pen-and-paper method" and memorizing formulas. There is a huge variety of online resources that teachers can use in order to supplement their lessons. In no way should the lesson solely consist of JUST technology, but there should be a technological aspect included within the lesson to "spice" up the lesson so to speak. It will be interesting to figure out which resources work best within my teaching practice, allowing different students to gain a whole new perspective on answering math questions.