Technology in the Classroom

Technology has become an important tool for teaching and learning math. When used the right way, it helps children see math ideas more clearly and interact with them in new ways. Studies show that technology helps young children learn math when it makes ideas visible and is used with teacher guidance. The National Association for the Education of Young Children states that technology should support active, social, and developmentally appropriate learning. It should be used to enhance hands-on learning, not replace it.

Benefits of Virtual Manipulatives:

A large study of 66 research projects found that using virtual manipulatives such as digital pattern blocks, ten frames, and base-ten blocks has a positive effect on math learning (Moyer-Packenham & Westenskow, 2013). These tools give students instant feedback and let them move and rearrange shapes or numbers to look for patterns. For example, students can compose and decompose numbers to make ten or build shapes and talk about symmetry. These features help children notice how quantities and shapes relate. Beyond improving math skills, technology also increases student engagement. Interactive tools and games motivate learners by turning math into an active, playful experience. Programs like Prodigy and Khan Academy Kids allow teachers to track progress and adjust lessons based on each student’s needs. These platforms use adaptive learning, meaning they automatically give students more practice where they need it and more challenge when they’re ready. Technology also supports collaboration, as students can work together on digital whiteboards or share ideas through math apps like Nearpod. 

How Teachers Can Use Technology Effectively:

The key to using technology well is balance. It should complement, not replace, traditional learning. Teachers can combine physical manipulatives with digital ones. Teachers also play an important role in guiding discussion. Asking questions such as “What did you notice?” or “How did the digital model help you understand this better?” encourages reflection and deepens learning.  

Sources:

Moyer-Packenham, Patricia  S., and Arla Westenskow. Effects of Virtual Manipulatives on Student Achievement and Mathematics Learning, July 2013, www.researchgate.net/publication/260311379_Effects_of_Virtual_Manipulatives_on_Student_Achievement_and_Mathematics_Learning.

NAEYC. Technology and Interactive Media as Tools in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8, Jan. 2012, www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/position-statements/ps_technology.pdf.



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