Journal Entry 3: iste article 2

Speaking Math: Using Chat
By: Janet Graham and Ted Hodgson

This article details a test study of how using a chat room would work as a tool to teach mathematics. The study is very interesting, and I believe it shows some very compelling evidence that using this kind of technology could be very useful to students. The study showed the chats to be particularly effective with ELL students and students with learning disabilities. By taking their time with assignments and working to become more familiar with the terminologies through group discussions on-line, all of the students showed a marked improvement in their comfort with the material. I think that this type of learning is great because it takes the individual learning needs of students into account instead of presupposing that all of the students will learn concepts in the same time frame.

How can we be sure to make this technology available to students who don’t have on-line access at home?

I think that it is really important to make sure that this type of teaching doesn’t create more of a division between students from different socioeconomic groups. There is the potential to get caught up in the creating of such a teaching tool that some students may be left out of the loop. Teachers using this type of thing should be careful how they implement it and what their expectations are of the students. There needs to be a fair amount of access to the technology for all of the students in the class.

How could this be used in a high school English course?

I think I would use a tool like this as a discussion board. I have been in numerous classes that have required the students to post commentary on the class materials, and it always seems to me as a student that the class is much more engaged with the material. It is a great device for teachers to monitor their students and provide adequate support when necessary. Even as a student I can see which other students are more or less invested in the material and which ones probably need some assistance or encouragement.