The teacher who influeced my teaching the most, regarding technology, was my cooperating teacher at my first placement. She continuously stressed the importance of the graphing calculator. Solving quadratic equations was a topic I covered during my solo teaching. While in the past, I knew I should set the equation equal to zero and solve. I could do this process with my eyes closed. However, it was not until Mrs. Morgan showed me the graph on the graphing calculater that I fully understood the process. I learned the critical values were the points where y=0; therefore, these are the points where the graph crossed the x-axis.
This event allowed me to see that the students need to make connections between solving algebraically and graphically. It is difficult for students to make the connection on their own. In my experience, integrating technology is most beneficial to the students when it is combined with algebraic solutions. Also, many students like to use the graphing calculator as a means of a check. Thus, the students can do the work algebraically and check graphically. This is always a good compromise.
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2 comments:
Calculators are an excellent way to check your work, as long as you type the information in correctly. I used my graphing calculator a lot in Linear Algebra to check my math with matrices. It was extremely helpful!
Katie,
I agree that students need to be able to solve problems algebraically and graphically. Calculators are great for students to use once they can make connection between these two methods.
Katie G
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