Resource Depot
Investigating more engaging ways to implement Mental Math
There are various issues associated with the integration
of mental math in our classrooms. When surrounded all day with technology, students may find it hard to
engage with a set of numbers on a whiteboard. Using various resources, we aim
to explore leveraging students use and enjoyment of technology to help them
learn and experience math in a new and engaging way.
Mobile devices can provide a new and exciting avenue as a learning tool. Developed through a professional dialogue with other educators, the following resource depot, is intended as a starting point to help teachers to engage their learners in new ways using technology.
Mobile devices can provide a new and exciting avenue as a learning tool. Developed through a professional dialogue with other educators, the following resource depot, is intended as a starting point to help teachers to engage their learners in new ways using technology.
Overview of Mental Math and the Mathematics Curriculum
Resources relating to the overview of the topic had to be from a reliable source (ie. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development). These resources provide the audience with a framework and a background to understand why the topic is important.
The PDF documents below are Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development documents on mental math strategies and can be used as an overview to educate teachers and school staff on the Mental Math Program.
Resources relating to the overview of the topic had to be from a reliable source (ie. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development). These resources provide the audience with a framework and a background to understand why the topic is important.
The PDF documents below are Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development documents on mental math strategies and can be used as an overview to educate teachers and school staff on the Mental Math Program.
Mental Math Program 7-9.pdf | |
File Size: | 1983 kb |
File Type: |
Rationale for Reinventing Math Instruction with technology
Resources related to the rationale for reinventing math instruction with technology were shared by colleagues during an online professional discussion. These resources are from Conferences (Greg Tang video) and Canadian Education Ministries (Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia).
Here is a great video (if you start around 2 mins 45 seconds when Greg Tang starts to talk and he provides an excellent explanation of why mental math facts are so important):
Here is a great video (if you start around 2 mins 45 seconds when Greg Tang starts to talk and he provides an excellent explanation of why mental math facts are so important):
How can technology support the learning of mathematics?
Technology enables students to explore and create patterns, examine relationships, test conjectures and solve problems.
Technology enables students to explore and create patterns, examine relationships, test conjectures and solve problems.
Technological Innovations
New technologies are constantly being created to help support the learning of mathematics. Nova Scotia teacher John Munro created an app that produces a 3D image based on the text by placing the camera over the selected questions. It can also read the text to the students or provide additional context to help them solve the question.
Resources related to the innovation of technology in the classroom were selected to demonstrate that local innovations are taking place in Nova Scotia and that these innovations are being documented in the media.
http://globalnews.ca/news/2070644/new-app-helps-ns-students-with-math-problems/
Resources related to the innovation of technology in the classroom were selected to demonstrate that local innovations are taking place in Nova Scotia and that these innovations are being documented in the media.
http://globalnews.ca/news/2070644/new-app-helps-ns-students-with-math-problems/
Resources Provided by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
The Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has created useful links that when coupled with LCD projectors and document cameras provide an excellent first foray into implementing technology to teach mental math strategies.
Resources provided by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development demonstrate that the government is on board and appreciates the need to implement and involve technology in a way to prepare students for the future.
Resources provided by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development demonstrate that the government is on board and appreciates the need to implement and involve technology in a way to prepare students for the future.
Learning Resources and Technology Services (Mental Math Videos):
https://dvl.ednet.ns.ca/mental-math
https://dvl.ednet.ns.ca/mental-math
Program of Learning Assessment for Nova Scotia - PLANS (Reading and Mathematics documents):
http://plans.ednet.ns.ca/grade8/documents
http://plans.ednet.ns.ca/grade8/documents
Technological Resources to improve delivery of Mental Math
Some sites that I find useful are Web 2.0 sites like Nearpod, Mentimeter and Padlet. These sites allow you to drop in student feedback activities that can be shared and projected on the LCD or via iPads or personal devices. I find that once students are engaged and realize that they can see their answers being appreciated by not only the teacher but by classmates it is another game changer.
Resources that were selected to demonstrate how to implement technology in the classroom were selected to be as user friendly as possible. The integration of technology into the classroom is a task that requires scaffolding and ongoing support from colleagues and experts.
Below are links to examples of certain Web-based programs that may be coupled with students own handheld devices to increase engagement via technology.
Resources that were selected to demonstrate how to implement technology in the classroom were selected to be as user friendly as possible. The integration of technology into the classroom is a task that requires scaffolding and ongoing support from colleagues and experts.
Below are links to examples of certain Web-based programs that may be coupled with students own handheld devices to increase engagement via technology.
What is Nearpod and how does it work?
Please visit the Nearpod website http://www.nearpod.com/
How Nearpod works: https://app.nearpod.com/#/?pin=0D8DE671899A22082DD94572C20C7D10-1
Nearpod Lessons created by A.Bellis:
4.1 Les Probabilites: https://app.nearpod.com/#/?pin=6D11B0A2F7E716C97EC9644F973FB3EF-1
5.1 Le Volume de figures a trois dimensions: https://app.nearpod.com/#/?pin=BC0E7037E36805B08791FA534EEE04D8-1
Nearpod Lessons created by A.Bellis:
4.1 Les Probabilites: https://app.nearpod.com/#/?pin=6D11B0A2F7E716C97EC9644F973FB3EF-1
5.1 Le Volume de figures a trois dimensions: https://app.nearpod.com/#/?pin=BC0E7037E36805B08791FA534EEE04D8-1
What is Google Forms and how does it work?
Please visit the Google Apps website: https://www.google.ca/edu/training/get-trained/forms/introduction.html
Google Forms can be used to create professional looking Questionnaires and Surveys that students can access using Google Apps for Education. The products created using Google Forms may be used as entrance and/or exit slips or as a method to receive real-time feedback from students on their level of understanding.
Please visit the Google Apps website: https://www.google.ca/edu/training/get-trained/forms/introduction.html
Google Forms can be used to create professional looking Questionnaires and Surveys that students can access using Google Apps for Education. The products created using Google Forms may be used as entrance and/or exit slips or as a method to receive real-time feedback from students on their level of understanding.
Google Forms created by A.Bellis:
Methods of Transportation Survey: http://goo.gl/forms/PlR3Hko8o5
Classroom Observations: http://goo.gl/forms/A0pJmsssKG
Methods of Transportation Survey: http://goo.gl/forms/PlR3Hko8o5
Classroom Observations: http://goo.gl/forms/A0pJmsssKG
What is Prezi and how does it work?
Please visit the Prezi website: https://prezi.com/
Prezi is cloud-based program that allows you to create or edit presentations. The program allows you to engage your audience through zoom and pan techniques to direct the focus of the audience from overview to specific details.
Please visit the Prezi website: https://prezi.com/
Prezi is cloud-based program that allows you to create or edit presentations. The program allows you to engage your audience through zoom and pan techniques to direct the focus of the audience from overview to specific details.
Prezis created by A.Bellis:
Le Tableau Periodique (adapted from PPT originally created by J.Morse):
http://prezi.com/cjuqplnjaghv/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Le Tableau Periodique (adapted from PPT originally created by J.Morse):
http://prezi.com/cjuqplnjaghv/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Resources selected for inclusion in the list of apps, channels, websites and games were drawn from specific and positive experiences with these resources and many were provided by colleagues during an online professional discussion and came with glowing recommendations.
Apps and Tutorials:
The following are links to tutorials that help explain the use and benefits of several apps. These are tools that students can practice with outside of the classroom to develop and maintain mental math strategies.
MathsJump App - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hs8R_SxApM
Kakooma App - http://gregtangmath.com/kakooma
Sakura QuickMath App - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKH_24riGK8
Mental Math Apps (fro Android) - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cyandroid.mentalmathfree&hl=en
YouTube Channels:
The following are links to YouTube channels that parents and guardians can watch with students to help them gain more exposure to mental math strategies.
Tecmath - https://www.youtube.com/user/tecmath
Kahn Academy - https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy
The Video Math Tutor - https://www.youtube.com/user/videomathtutor
Mathademics - https://www.youtube.com/user/Mathademics
Numberphile - https://www.youtube.com/user/numberphile
Math TV - https://www.youtube.com/user/MathTV
Origo - https://www.youtube.com/user/ORIGOEducation
The Video Math Tutor - https://www.youtube.com/user/videomathtutor
Mathademics - https://www.youtube.com/user/Mathademics
Numberphile - https://www.youtube.com/user/numberphile
Math TV - https://www.youtube.com/user/MathTV
Origo - https://www.youtube.com/user/ORIGOEducation
Websites:
The following are links to websites of very experienced Math experts. These links can not only provide support for students, but may also help parents and guardians to understand the context of mental math strategies in the world.
Kahn Academy - https://www.khanacademy.org/
Greg Tang - http://gregtangmath.com/games
Dr. Marian Small - http://www.onetwoinfinity.ca/index.php
Games:
The following is a list of sites with games that teachers have found students enjoy and that help maintain students engagement levels with the math content.
Box of Facts - http://www.origoeducation.com/the-box-of-facts/?mageloc=CA
Math Help - http://www.mathhelp.com/
MindBites - http://mindbites.com/person/12602-YourTeacher
Math Help - http://www.mathhelp.com/
MindBites - http://mindbites.com/person/12602-YourTeacher