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 OurBlook interview with Sue Glascoe, math teacher, Mesa Community College
Please tell us how you have incorporated technology in the teaching of your math students at Mesa, and in particular your use of multiple Interwrite Mobis.
SG: I use eInstruction’s Interwrite Mobi to present from anywhere in the room, and I use the software that comes with it (Workspace) to run my lesson. During my lesson, I will often have students work out problems that I have posted on the Workspace “whiteboard” screen. I will then walk around the room and answer any questions they have, and then hand several of them a Mobi to post their method and solution on the Workspace screen for the rest of the students to see. When several solutions are posted, this then gives me an opportunity to review the different approaches and correct any common mistakes that occurred.
I also use CPS Pulse student response system from eInstruction. With the system, each student has a handheld device that they can use to respond to questions in real time, or use to submit answers to exam questions.
You have said that since implementing this technology, you've seen more student participation than ever in your 23 years of teaching, and that it's "night and day" in comparison to before. Why do you think this is?
SG: I think this is true for several reasons. First of all, it was something different from the normal lecture. All of the sudden, the instructor was walking around the room seeing that they were texting and using Facebook (I would tease them when I walked past them and they would stop). It only took a couple of days before they quit texting or playing on their computer during class! The other reason I believe it changed was because they never know when I will hand them a Mobi and they have to write out the solution. So, they found themselves not only having to be more engaged, but they appeared to want to be more engaged as well. They enjoyed joking about each other’s handwriting, so it became less of a big deal to try writing with the Mobi. They seemed to enjoy interacting more with me, and with each other.
What do you see as the future for online teaching and learning at Mesa and at other colleges? Are there any other particular new techniques you foresee coming soon?
SG: I think there is always a place for online learning, because students need choices and many love interacting with technology. With the Mobi software, Workspace, I am able to record lessons that appear on the screen during class, and then post them online. I foresee this as becoming more and more practical, as opposed to only relying on the textbook resources. Students need to see an instructor teaching in a relevant way, and many of the online textbook videos and resources are already outdated. With Workspace, it is also easy for me to quickly answer a student’s question by recording myself (voice and pen) solving the problem and explaining the solution. I then upload the video to a website or just send the video directly to the student. I prefer housing all solutions I record on a website so other students can gain from the seeing the solution(s) as well. This will also change the face of online instruction for the positive.
Is there a psychological aspect to this as well as technical ... e.g., do college students learn better via technical methods, or a combination of personal and technical methods?
SG: In my experience, the younger students learn better with a combination of technology and interaction with the instructor. They have grown up around computers and are very technologically advanced, as compared to their older peers, who tend to be a bit intimidated by technology. Both the younger and older students enjoy interacting with the technology once they get used to it, and it keeps them more engaged in class. This has had a very positive effect on their grades!
Is there a cost-savings aspect to this ... is it a more financially efficient means of teaching and learning?
SG: The Mobi is a mobile interactive whiteboard. It has the same capabilities as an interactive whiteboard, but its content can be projected to any surface. In my class, I project content to a white screen in the classroom, and contribute to, move and control content using my Mobi tablet from anywhere in the room. The Mobi is a very cost effective tool, as you get the same capabilities as a whiteboard, but there is no need to purchase a physical whiteboard, whiteboard markers, or erasers. Also, it is portable and can be used in any classroom or lecture area, or even a meeting room (as long as there is an LCD projector and screen).
Can this teaching technology be used in high schools, junior highs and elementary schools as well?
SG: Yes, eInstruction technology can be used in elementary school, junior highs and high schools.
Are there any disadvantages to this method or the use of technology generally in education, or anything that concerns you?
SG: I have not come across, or thought of, any disadvantages from technology itself. The only inhibiting factors I have found are from the instructor end. First, some instructors don’t want to learn and use technology to enhance their instruction. They don’t realize what a benefit it is to the student. The other concern for technology I have does not apply to eInstruction. I get concerned when instructors use technology to replace instruction. The graphing calculator is a good example of a great piece of technology that can be easily misused to replace algebraic instruction (which I see as an improper use of it). The technology itself can be very helpful, in this case, but it is how the instructor chooses to use it that matters. The Mobi and CPS Pulse, on the other hand, cannot replace any instruction, rather they can be used to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom.
What do you see as the future of education in the U.S. ... will it get better or worse?
SG: That is a tough question. I believe the prospect of it getting better rests on the shoulders of good teachers. There are many good teachers today who are willing to move in directions that contribute to enhancing teaching and learning by incorporating relevant technology. I say this because it is very ‘relevant’ to today’s students. These students do not learn well by just reading a book or hearing a lecture. Teachers, just like any other professional, need to keep up with trends in their profession. In this case, it is the current needs of the students. I believe both teachers and students should be keeping up with ideas and technologies that are relevant to the future workforce these students will be entering into when they graduate.
Is there anything else you'd like to say about any aspect of this topic?
SG: It is an exciting time to be a teacher! The addition of technology to keep students engaged, while being able to immediately assess their level of understanding, is a huge benefit. For me, the ability to be able to interact more readily with my students has made teaching fun again. I have seen my students grow more interested in the subject matter and participate in class; these are HUGE strides in my book.
(Sue Glascoe’s blog on Teaching Math with Technology: www.tech4mathed.com. Other links: eInstruction’s CPS Pulse: http://einstruction.com/products/assessment/pulse/index.html. eInstruction’s Interwrite Mobi: http://einstruction.com/products/interactive_teaching/mobi/index.html.)
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