Chapter 10

1. Learning Objective 1: Explain how the emergence of calculators in the twentieth century provides a model for teachers thinking about emerging technologies.
Calculators emerged in the 1970s and teachers were conflicted about their use in schools. Teachers asked the question: How can children learn what they need to learn if they use a calculator?" Teachers feared that the calculator would do the thinking for them and students would not learn on their own how to solve mathematical problems. The challenge for educators is to utilize the calculator as a tool that aids students in mathematics and to make sure that a calculator does not become a crutch that students are reliant on. Emerging technologies can aid students' learning in the classroom but teachers need to challenge and contemplate whether or not they are appropriate.

2. Question: How much do technologies that we now consider standard, such as calculators and spell check, influence how well students learn basic concepts such as computations and spelling?

3. This chapter was helpful in making me think about how a new technology needs to be challenged and thought about before it is introduced in a classroom. New technology should aid students learning not making things confusing or time consuming. The chapter also had interesting ideas about how to use blogging in the classroom. Blogging is a good way to see each of your students' ideas about a topic and an easy way to gauge participation.