How technology helps in K-5 mathematics education
Visualization has become an effective method to teach children simple arithmetic problems and get them interested in learning mathematics. Children better understand what they see and what they can taste and touch. It is easier for them to show the task as a picture than to force them to learn formulas. During the pandemic, many schools closed and parents were looking for ways to continue their children’s education. And mathematics was no exception to the regular school curriculum. In addition to online learning, children studied some of the material on their own or sometimes with the help of their parents. Thanks to the era of technology that has offered many virtual platforms with various teaching techniques. Most of them offer adaptive ways of learning that are based on a game form. And it gave results.
An important factor during distance learning is not just to get children to study in their familiar home environment, but to maintain an interest in learning. And such online resources did a great job with this. Even now, many parents support such learning, for example, to explain to the child a topic that he did not understand at school or to continue learning during the holidays to consolidate the material covered at school. Technology has made K-5 mathematics education much easier because kids can learn virtually on a smartphone, laptop or PC. They can walk with their parents in the park and study a short lesson on the tablet. Education should be interesting and enjoyable so as not to frighten away the attention of the child, and modern technologies cope with this task.
A large selection of lessons, programs, games, quests, and so on create an excellent environment for teaching children of different ages. Experienced educators support and appreciate technology as a way to teach math, but they also highlight the importance of parents in the process. It’s pretty easy to hit the “start lesson” button and go about your business, as many parents do. Children may not understand the material and be afraid to ask their parents. The material remains not closed, they are not interested in further study and the program is closed. Parents do not need to hope that technology will solve all problems and teach mathematics to the level of Einstein. Pay attention to children and get involved in the learning process if you want the child to get a result.
Conclusion
It cannot be said that technology has not made a certain contribution to the modern methodology of education. There are factors that make the classroom curriculum more effective. But if we consider virtual learning portals, then they have become an excellent solution during distance education or as a way to explain to children the material that they did not understand at school. It can become a full-fledged learning technique if you give it enough time: watch videos, solve problems, take tests and enjoy your progress.