Idea: Not only slowing down the Math Stations, some students in my last practicum (Grade 7) depended highly on their calculators and it was surprising by how much they saw the legitimacy in this even if the problem was age appropriate and fairly straight forward (adding and subtracting three digit numbers)
Reflection 1: From what I remember, when I was in school we used calculators. We definitely used them in Grade 8 when finding the area of a circle, and I wouldn't doubt that while the calculator was on our desks we would type in simple problems that we could have done in our heads. It was convenient. But, it's also a tool that was invented and allows us to do these "simple and silly" problems. You can't really blame the technology.
Reflection 2: But, my kids were WAITING to use a calculator - for their friend to finish and pass it over. While waiting, students would get social and not even try to attempt the problem without my prompting. Is this a norm the education system has created? Like putting up your hand, or lining up at the door before you enter the room? Unless your teacher says not to, use a calculator! It's easier.
No comments:
Post a Comment