I think that digital books have their place and that they may be helpful for some people. I do not think that hard copy books will ever go completely away. As time passes more people may find digital books more to their liking and we may find more uses for digital books, but I do not think that hard copy books will ever completely disappear. Hard copy books do have their place as well.
In class mathematics and the use of calculators came up in discussion. I feel that calculators do have a place in mathematics but most concepts should be taught first without calculators. Most of mathematics is about relationships and those relationships build on each other. If, as a math teacher, all you teach is how to push buttons on the calculator, then I question if you have really taught mathematics. Math is more than just the answer. If students do not understand why there are pushing the buttons on the calculator and what exactly the calculator is doing, then you have not really taught them math. On the other hand, once students have demonstrated that they know the underlying concepts, then there is no reason that students cannot use calculators to make things easier. Also, as a good math teacher, students need to be taught why this math is important. If you teach math from a relational standpoint, I feel that it is easier to make the connection to real life. Math concepts build on each other, so if you do not understand the concepts in one grade then it is extremely difficult to understand the concepts in the next grade. This is not completely true for all concepts, but is for the majority of them.
I agree, Emily. Teaching relationships in mathematics is critical to the deeper understanding. Calculators are a tool--one that needs to be used in conjunction with learning conceptually. However, we needn't camp out in an all or none place--thinking about technology in productive ways is important as teachers so we don't draw lines in the sand. I think playing with calculators, even early on, is a great way to support conceptual knowledge.
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