Grade 7 Open Up Resources’ Guidance on Equitable Integration of Technology

Overview

Open Up Resources believes in the equitable integration of technology to support teachers, enhance and improve students’ learning experiences and school mathematics environments. This guidance provides an overview of the purpose of technology and its effective use in the mathematics environment. (NCTM 2015, AMTE 2017, 2022). The purposeful integration and application of technology, as strongly recommended by national organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, aims to center student thinking and position students in productive ways.  

Open Up Resources’ Definition of Technology

Technology includes interactive whiteboards and a wide range of handhelds (tablet, laptop, desktop-based devices, etc…) that can be used to help students make sense of mathematics, engage in mathematical reasoning, and communicate mathematically. (NCTM, 2014, 2015)

What is classroom equity?

What does it mean to integrate technology equitably in the classroom?

Technology continues to play a pivotal role in the lives and education of K–12 students. Thus, Open Up Resources believes classroom instruction and learning opportunities must intentionally integrate technology. This integration will support transforming educational experiences and effectively engage students in exploring mathematical topics with a depth of understanding. Technology should promote access and inclusion in developing a conceptual and procedural understanding of mathematics by emphasizing multiple representations while connecting mathematical topics relevant to our students, schools, and communities.

Supporting Teachers

Technology integration promotes humanizing mathematical learning experiences — not restricted to symbolic manipulation and “answer getting.” Instead, it focuses on mathematical learning to aid reasoning, sense-making, and analyzing relevant contexts. Therefore, technology must be integrated to provide critical tools to support student-centered instruction while providing teaching to learn mathematics in deep, meaningful ways. Open Up Resources strongly believes in 360-degree support beyond this guidance document and meaningful support at the point of use to ensure teachers have what they need.

Enhancing Students’ Learning Experiences

In today’s society, technology has become an inherent part of students’ lives. To this end, Open Up Resources focuses on increasing its technology offerings to enhance students’ learning experiences. Intentionally intertwining technology allows students the opportunity to investigate mathematical ideas and problems that might be too difficult or time-consuming to explore. In addition, Open Up Resources has a firm belief that all students should have access to technology that supports the teaching and learning of mathematics. 

Improving Schools Mathematics Environments 

School mathematics education leaders need to provide access to technology to students before/after school and during classroom instruction to ensure equitable and accessible resources for students, caretakers, and educational stakeholders to support every student’s opportunity to engage in productive mathematical learning.

Open Up Resources’ 5 Essential Keys to Integration

• Leverage technology to advance the Eight Mathematics Teaching Practices

• Use technology to emphasize multiple mathematical representations

• Use technology to explore more authentic and realistic contexts

• Provide maximum access to technology resources to students throughout the schooling experience

• Intertwine technology into pedagogical practices 

Lessons with Technology Guidance

Contributors

References

Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. (2017). Standards for preparing teachers of mathematics. 

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2020). Catalyzing change in Middle School Mathematics. Initiating critical conversations. Reston VA, USA: NCTM. 

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (NCTM & CAEP). (2020). Standards for the preparation of secondary mathematics teachers.

NCTM (2015). Strategic use of technology in teaching and learning mathematics: A position of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.