ISTE Article 4

Lure of the Labyrinth
John-Paul Bennett

The Maryland Public Television group developed an online learning project which enabled students to play games during math class. The game is called Lure of the Labyrinth and helps students develop pre-algebra skills. It is sort of like a rescue game and students are only able to advance to the next level by correctly answering questions based on fractions, number operations and other pre-algebra equations. I want to become a credentialed

Q1) Would this serve as a bigger distraction than an actual learning tool?
I think that anything that engages students but at the same time teaches them and allows them to practice math is worth trying. I feel that as long as the student expresses some sort of a desire to do math is a step.


This Rock 'n' Roll Video Teaches Math
Margaret L. Niess and Janet M. Walker

When centuries changed from the 20th to the 21st, technology shifted with it as well. Analog broadcasting is now being replaced with digital video. Digital video is easier to alter and edit and offers new ways to teach various topics in education. As for the subject of math, "digital video can be used to present challenging mathematical questions, improve students’ visualization of mathematics concepts, and offer opportunities to analyze situations and models leading to mathematical descriptions of relationships" (31). I agree completely. For example, in this EDUC 422 course, I created a lesson plan on fractions and used a video I had made to support and accompany the lesson plan. It is engaging for the students and helps them take a different approach to math.

Q2) How would video production have a negative effect on the children?
I am afraid that the students would be too concentrated on the actual video taking and editing than the math itself. it would be taking away practice time for the students. When they should be doing homework problems and studying, they will be occupied with background music and smooth transitions.