Technology in the Curriculum

The curriculum I will be using is the NSW Mathematics syllabus created by the Board of Studies found at http://syllabus.bostes.nsw.edu.au/mathematics/. I chose Mathematics because the children in my Kindergarten class are mostly non-readers and using technology for this age group’s Mathematics is typically visual. The children have a lot of fun while building their essential skills and are successful using the technology.  I think it is also a great way to build mathematics confidence which is a good foundation for success in future Mathematics lessons.

ICT is written into the Mathematics syllabus in the Working Mathematically outcomes. I will focus Mae-2WM - “A student uses objects, actions, technology and/or trial and error to explore mathematical problems”. Working mathematically underpins all the content and provides students with the opportunity to develop the skills to become flexible and creative users of mathematics. 

The classroom has an Interactive whiteboard for whole class explicit teaching, tablets and netbooks to use in small group activities. 

Series of lessons

My initial plan for my series of lessons would be in the Number and Algebra Strand focusing on addition and subtraction.  I would use the Interactive Whiteboard for explicit teaching of the concept then I would demonstrate the game and activities that the children would be using in that lesson.  During group time the children would have a device each and they would “play” the game to explore mathematical problems through trial and error.

Software choices

I think the most important thing to remember is to stay true to the curriculum and not get bogged down in the hardware or software. 

Using the netbooks I would have the children use the Targeting Maths Lab by Blake Education which is which is loaded on our school network.  There are 20 different activities and games for each year level covering most of the strands in the mathematics syllabus. We also have access to the other year levels so we can differentiate the activities to the knowledge of the students. 

Websites like Studyladder, IXL Maths,Woodland Maths and Get Smart also offer a range of interactive activities and games for our students to learn from. 

On the tablets I would use Apps like Kids Math Kindergarten, Kids Math Fun, Math vs Undead, Math Workout, Interactive Telling Time, IXL Maths and Zeus vs Monsters.'

Thoughts about lesson planning with technology.

After teaching for a while you forget all the background information that lesson plans show. Of course that information is relevant but it is in the programming documents rather than on individual lesson plans. Teaching with technology is no different to planning lessons using concrete material.  The focus is always the curriculum. We need to keep the learning intention in mind and use whatever tools we have to help our students reach that learning goal. We use WALT (We are learning to) statements with our students so they know the goal of the lesson. At the end of the lesson the children reflect on their learning and share something they learnt with their peers.  

If we follow Roblyer & Doering’s (2014) advice to integrate technology we need to consider the teaching strategies, use technology planning tools and have trained teachers matching technology to the curriculum needs. I agree that knowing your students and how they learn and knowing what and how your technology works makes lesson planning easier.
If you take the time to prepare and plan your lessons they will be successful.  The hardest part is deciding on what tools and materials to use for the greatest success.

Board of Studies. (n.d.). Mathemathics Syllabus. Retrieved January 2016, from http://syllabus.bostes.nsw.edu.au/mathematics/

Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2014). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. Essex:Pearson.