Virginia Mathematics Teacher Fall 2016

Technology Review Section Editor: Christophe Hirel

In this section, we feature websites, online manipulatives, and web-based applications that are appropriate for K-12 mathematics instruction. We are looking for critical reviews of technologies which focus on both the benefits and limitations of using these tools in a K-12 mathematics classroom. If you use a technological tool and wish to share with us, please respond to the call for manuscripts on page 46.

Christophe Hirel Section Editor,

Technology Review chirel69@yahoo.com

Youtube’s Reinforcement of Mathematical Misconceptions Dr. Amanda Sawyer

Youtube boasts that over 1 billion unique users visit their website every month, with over 100 hours of video being uploaded every minute ( https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/statistics.html , 2014). With this kind of popularity, it is no surprise that many elementary teachers use this website regularly to find videos to help teach specific mathematical topics. However, this venue does not ensure the videos posted are mathematically valid.

Many teach mathematics skills through songs. For example, in Figure 1 the video states, “Ten times any number. You put a zero after the number . You get it” ( https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=zCJug1WlYJs , 2014). The 10 TIME TABLES “ROCK” teaches students the mathematical misconception that you always put zero after a number when multiplying by ten, but this rule does not hold true for multiplying 10 by a decimal. Figure 2 shows another example of a video teaching a mathematical misconception. The video reinforces the misconception that subtraction is always “take away,” teaching students that subtraction has only one meaning because, “When you subtract with a pirate, you always take away” ( https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=qWEm5xozyK8 , 2014). A mathematical misconception is defined as a mistaken idea or view resulting from a misunderstanding of a mathematical concept (Allen, 2007). One way to avoid developing these misconceptions is to critically review a video intended for classroom use, as not everything posted in social media has gone through content review. Social websites where individuals share their ideas also share individuals’ misunderstandings. Today’s technology and social media is a great teaching resource, so long as we all act as well informed critical consumers. videos on Youtube

Figure 1 : 10 TIME TABLES “ROCK”

References

https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/statistics.html 2014

Allen, G. (2007) Student thinking.

http:// www.math.tamu.edu/~snite/MisMath.pdf

Figure 2 : When You Subtract With a Pirate math song for kids

Virginia Mathematics Teacher vol. 43, no. 1

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