TechnologyandMath

**Raptivity application ** The Raptivity application is a very useful tool. It really enhances learning for visual and audio learners. It is also another resource to add to a website for any students who miss class. The one concern about student teaching is home bound students. How can teachers help them more? This application could really help them see how certain equations are solved for example. They could be taught by you without you putting any extra effort into it. The program could easily be put into a SMART Board lesson for class and easily uploaded onto the website thereafter. **Visual “Proof” for Visual Learners **
 * 4Technology and Math **


 * == **1/4 + 1/16 + 1/64 + 1/256 + ... = 1/3** == || == 1/3 + 1/9 + 1/27 + 1/81 + ... = 1/2 == ||  a + b = c ||
 *  [[image:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PnLYRqe0k9g/Smp9INIigTI/AAAAAAAAAI0/gQyMxj1hry0/s320/Sum+Of+Fractions+Inverse+Powers+of+4.png align="left" link="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PnLYRqe0k9g/Smp9INIigTI/AAAAAAAAAI0/gQyMxj1hry0/s1600-h/Sum+Of+Fractions+Inverse+Powers+of+4.png"]] ||  [[image:http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PnLYRqe0k9g/SnEcNvarsqI/AAAAAAAAAJk/xEOCTS-5Fh8/s320/Sum+Of+Fractions+Inverse+Powers+of+3%28with+diagonal%29.png link="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PnLYRqe0k9g/SnEcNvarsqI/AAAAAAAAAJk/xEOCTS-5Fh8/s1600-h/Sum+Of+Fractions+Inverse+Powers+of+3%28with+diagonal%29.png"]]  || [[image:http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PnLYRqe0k9g/SmqTVZGASRI/AAAAAAAAAJM/66iFpAK3YS0/s1600/Pythagoras.png width="273" height="353"]] ||

**Many students are visual learners and the process of learning mathematics is best completed if students have the ability to see accurate visual representations of the concepts that they are supposed to be learning. Many websites, such as this []provide visual proofs of geometrical concepts that will allow students to feel more comfortable applying these theorems to their work. The addition of the smart board or simply a projector that shows the computer screen can be of great value to a mathematics teacher who does not have the artistic ability that is necessary to provide accurate representations of polygons in geometry or graphs of functions in algebra. Technological resources provide a wonderful aid for mathematics teachers to assist visual learners. **


 * Google Sketchup Program **
 * Between all the various freeware programs available, the Google SketchUp would be a great tool for mathematics teachers to use when teaching geometry lessons. With Google SketchUp, teachers can teach students about various mathematical concepts with visual representations. Not only will this program help students see math concepts more easily, but it will give them the opportunity to work with math hands-on. The Google SketchUp has many features. The program allows students to create their own shapes by drawing edges and surfaces. As they draw these shapes, teachers could show them how to find the areas and volumes of their figures. The program also has a tool where students can draw lines. With this portion of the program, teachers can create a lesson on parallel and perpendicular lines. Teachers can also discuss how to measure angles with the protractor tool on this freeware. Instead of using the protractor in class, students can measure angles with this program which they will enjoy more. Google SketchUp also enables students to work with different planes. Here the teacher can show students the difference between 2 planes (2-D) and 3 planes (3-D). This visual representation will help them visualize graphing equations as the three planes in the program, for example, can serve as the x,y, and z-axes used to graph the problems. With the planes, students can practice locating certain points on the x,y,z-axes. Last, this program can give students experience in rotating shapes. This can help teachers teach the geometric translations unit in which students have to rotate, reflect, and translate shapes. These are just a few ideas on how mathematics teachers could use this program in their classes. While SketchUp is nice if you are looking for a more advanced program, DELCAM makers of Feature CAM (a program commonly used at semo) offers their power shop software for free. Check it out at [|http://www.delcam.com/general] **


 * [|/downloads/software_dl.asp] **


 * Virtual Manipulatives for Mathematics **
 * This site has some great links to math manipulatives that are available online, **
 * [|http://www.ct4me.net/math_manipulatives.htm#Manipulatives]. **
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'bookman old style','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">It also gives advice on how to make your own math manipulatives for the **
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">[[image:http://lh3.ggpht.com/_HqF9hUon5qY/Sh2sriGXF1I/AAAAAAAAZpk/nf6d4H_tEd4/8th%20Grade%20final_Nick%20Bridges2.jpg align="right"]]<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style','serif';">also has a lot of great manipulatives to use in the classroom. The manipulativesclassroom. <span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style',serif;">The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives, [], **


 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'bookman old style',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">are organized by grade levels and by subject matter, which makes it easy to **
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'bookman old style',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">find what you are looking for. These manipulatives can be used as a type **
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'bookman old style',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">of instruction or as a reinforcement for students. If the class has access to **
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'bookman old style',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">computers, the students would be able to use the manipulatives as a learning tool. **


 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'bookman old style','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">Online Graphing Calculators **
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'bookman old style','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">Texas Instruments, the makers of most calculators used in the classroom, has many resources and classroom activity ideas to use. Graphing calculators a great tool to use in upper level math classroom and they are usually required anyway. They provide visual representations of functions, and algebraic relationships. You should be cautious when buying a graphing calculator because some of the more advanced calculators are not allowed during tests like the ACT and SAT. There are programs that can be downloaded and purchased to use in the classroom. There are activity ideas at this website: []. Another great graphing calculator program is the program Derive. This program can not only be used for graphing but math problems ranging from basic arithmetic all the way into advanced calculus. It is a great tool to have not just for students but also for teachers. **

||= <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"> ||
 * = <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">[[image:http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTBBMKhq0R-h-Rht4EFmOCiFmlZxiOknEvRumpJch8rZ-LOsah9 width="388" height="254" align="center" caption="An online graphing calculator which students who lack that technology could easily use."]]


 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'bookman old style',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">Drafting **

**<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">For drafting teachers: Go to Auto CAD's website, [|http://usa.autodesk.com/] and click on the student and educators link. Set up an account and you can download all of their software for free. It is a one year subscription but free. ** <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"> **<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">Floor Planner is a great site to use in geometry classes for units on measuring area, perimeter, scale, and pulling many aspects of geometry together for a "bigger picture." The site is free to sign up for and each student could easily create their own account with a school provided email adress and password. This could also easily be applied in Home Economics classes and Industrial Technology or Drafting classes for work on life applications and home building or organizing. This is a great source for many reasons and could be used in a wide range of classrooms from middle school through college level classes. The picture to the right is an example of the work that will inspire the kids imaginations and help them to see the applications their classes have in real life. This site is accessible through this link [] and remember it is free and very easy to use. **

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**Useful Websites for Students and Teachers** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[|mathisfun.com] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Mathisfun.com is a great website full of easy to understand definitions and activities. It has games, puzzles, worksheets, and use of manipulatives that help students to understand math in the world.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[|coolmath.com] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This is a very useful website designed for the frustrated, the confused, the bored students of the world who hate math. Coolmath was designed for students to better understand math in a more creative way. This website is chalk full of math games that involve a variety of math skills. The site also has math lessons for teachers to use in their own classrooms that also have games linked to them that teachers can use to check for comprehension. It also has a very good dictionary with examples and illustrations. This site covers subjects such as Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Precalc/calc, and Geometry. It has an application for an online graphing calculator and gives a list of all the different careers involving math. Helpful hints about how to study for math tests.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">[|onlineconversion.com] <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This site does conversions for weight, length, etc. which is very useful for students and teachers alike.

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==If your having students that have issues with understanding slope, this site does a great job explaining it. It provides step by step instructions and the formulas that need to be used to find the slope of a line. It gives great examples and visuals that help explain slope to just about any learning style. It also gives sample and practice questions to allow the students to apply what they have learned from the site. If you go the PurpleMath homepage, you can see that this site is a great site for algebra students and teachers alike. There are links to worksheets and activities for teachers to incorporate into their own classrooms.==

This physics website is all physics games and all fun. As a teacher we need resources for our students to enjoy the curriculum
==outside of the classroom and this website is a great resource. Students will be able to play games and use their knowledge of physics to win. Many of these games are easy enough to understand, but then their knowledge of physics comes into play to dominate and defeat. Blow Things Up 2 is a great physics game that will interest students and get their attention while using physics.==

http://www.korthalsaltes.com/
==This is a good site to help your kinesthetic learners. It could be used in a Geometry class to help students learn more abstract figures' surface areas along with how the forms actually look. It has templates that can be printed off then cut and folded to create the 60 plus figures in the index.==

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==**This is a very useful tool for math teachers to have. This is a website that contains information about area math competitions for most of the states in the U.S. This website has samples contest questions for grades 4- high school. It also contains schedules to help planning trip to varioius contests. The website also has newsletters about rule changes and other important information and announcements.**==