Wathall Synthesis Chapter 7: How Do I Integrate Technology to Foster Conceptual Understanding? by Anthony Giliberto

Integrating Technology in A Classroom

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-17 23:48:00 UTC

When to Use Technology In My Practice

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-17 23:48:25 UTC

When NOT to Use Technology in my Practice

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-17 23:48:40 UTC

TPACK

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-17 23:51:05 UTC

Framework that explains teachers understanding of educational technologies and how their pedogeological and content interact with one another to produce effective teaching alongside technology.

Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) - how learning and teaching change when tech is used

Technological Content Knowledge (TCK) - understanding of how tech has impacted out content knowledge

Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) -understanding of our approaches to teaching and learning the content in our area

HEART OF GOOD TEACHER IS INTERSECTION OF ALL THREE OF THESE (TPK, PCK, TCK)

SAMR

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-17 23:53:54 UTC

Substitution - Where technology is used to replace something like PowerPoint replacing chalkboard notes

Augmentation - technology tools act as direct substitute with functional improvement (students practice questions on online websites)

Modification - technology allows for significant task redesign (producing videos for flipped class or use various apps for formative feedback)

Redefinition - allows for creation of new tasks otherwise previously inaccessible (Use google earth to college data or have groups create website projects)

Using SAMR Model

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:05:00 UTC

In my own practice I want to make sure sure that technology is incorporated throughout multiple aspects of my teaching. I think it is valuable to mix up different ways and styles of presenting information so that way students have multiple attempts and modes to digest content. With that being said, using PowerPoint to substitute for guides notes, or using technology applets such as canvas where students can answer questions are ways to incorporate the model. Also, using activities through apps such as desmos classroom or GeoGebra where students can visualize there work gives us activities that are only accessible via tech.

Seeing Multiple Representations

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:07:38 UTC

Technology can allow students to see multiple representations using tools such as graphing software, which further supports and deepens understandings of concepts such a quadratics or graphing lines.

Visualizing Math Concepts

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:20:57 UTC

Using programs such as GeoGebra, Desmsos, Or PHET simulations students can see the math in action and explore certain topics to create a deeper understanding

Enhance Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:23:24 UTC

Using tools such as Jamboard, Padlet, or Pear Deck my mentor teachers and myself have incorporated opportunities for student to show their thinking related to open ended questions. Students can then interact with other posts, learn different perspectives, and start to make connections between concepts.

Flipped Classroom Approach

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:26:50 UTC

I personally have never done this fully but using technological tools and videos to explain to students content before they come into class can help teachers concentrate on students struggles rather than what they already know. My mentor teachers sometimes suggest that students watch a video before coming in as pre-work to prepare them for a lesson and it seems to have benefits to get over the initial definitions and terms.

Multimedia Projects

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:30:02 UTC

I have seen the value in student projects firsthand through my internship. Having students use technology and giving them more freedom to choose how they present their work provides large increases to student motivation and sparks that enjoyment for learning. Also, projects where students have to explain a math concept themselves in a unique way or create a presentation showing something like the unit circle can increase collaboration and communication in the learning environment.

To Enhance Collaboration

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:34:00 UTC

Student collaboration is essential to creating a social learning environment where all students ideas are values and where students can learn from each other and deepen understanding of topics.

1) Google Slides - (tell students to find out how to complete the square and explain the method on google slides and present to the class)

2) Digital Concept Maps - have students answer an open ended question and post there answer on a platform like Padlet which can act as a mind map for students thoughts on a topic. Students can comment on each others post and connect their ideas.

3) Kahoot/Blookit - have students play an interactive game in which they answer rapid fire math questions and compete with each other

Connecting Math to the Real World

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:35:39 UTC

Using technologies such as excel, google sheets, google earth, CODAP, and others they can get real life data in order to find solutions to real life problems using relevant concepts from the math course.

If It Does Not Enhance Learning

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:38:06 UTC

Based on the SAMR model, if the digital tool does not enhance the learning of students then it should not be used. There is value in the old fashioned way of thinking.

Example: Don't replace the opportunity to use manipulatives

Building Procedural Knowledge

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:39:54 UTC

When students are learning how to perform algorithms such as solving systems of equations or factoring technology can limit their understanding and mess with their process. You want to have student work something like this out manually before giving them acces to technological tools.

Mental Math and Number Sense Practice

anthonygiliberto20 — 2025-04-18 00:41:43 UTC

Based on my time in my internships there seems to be an overreliance on calculators to do mental math which in turn hurts students abilities to complete more difficult math concepts.

Example: Having students convert degrees to radians when they can not simplify fractions.