Sewanhaka EdTechTeam Custom Summit

Redefining Mathematics Pedagogy with Contextual Tasks & Technology

Wednesday August 2nd and Thursday August 3rd, 2017

Thank you for joining me for some math geekery at the Sewanhaka EdTechTeam Custom Summit! Please feel free to utilize the resources related to the day below for your future use. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out in the future!

Session #1: Going Paperless: Digital Handouts and Textbooks in a Snap!

In this session, we explored some options for going paperless in the math classroom.

Prior to jumping into the technology, we discussed the SAMR Model and the importance of first planning whether the technology we are using is providing functional improvement (i.e.: improving your workflow) or transformative (i.e.: doing things with the technology that you couldn’t have done without it). We also discussed the pitfalls we can encounter such as using “tech for tech’s sake” and potentially making things more difficult than our current workflow.

We then explored some paperless options such as:

Regardless of which route you take, just always reflect on whether the technology is helping to improve your workflow and/or redefine how you teach in your classroom. If you can hit both, great; if you aren’t hitting either, maybe that tool isn’t worth it.

Session #2: Making Math Contextual, Visual and Concrete

Before jumping into the task, we discussed the two groups of students I (unintentionally) created in my class and the possible commonalities between students in both groups.

We also spent some time discussing the problem with rushing to the algorithm and used the Keurig Instant Coffee Maker commercial as a prime example of the rush to the algorithm.

The task explored during this session was the Stacking Paper 3 Act Math Task:

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Keep in mind that you might consider using Google Sites as an option to deliver this task:

Access Google Site

You can also read a blog post about creating interactive tasks with Google Sites here:

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I shared a Google Doc with a couple additional options as well such as Desmos Custom Activity Builder, Knowledgehook Gameshow, Recap! and GoFormative.

Session #3: Creating Interactive Math Journeys With iPads

During this session we explored some tools such as Explain Everything, including an overview of the app and how we might use the app to create an Explain Everything Learning Journey“:

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Here’s a second example.

We then dove into Desmos and spent some time in the graphing calculator, using a polygraph and activity builder.

Some other cool Desmos Activities:

[DESMOS] Marbleslides: Lines


Desmos Marbleslides - Lines

This activity supports the Counting Candies 3 Act Math Task in order to introduce the idea of systems of equations.

Access this activity in the following ways:

Note that they have other Marbleslides versions including:

Session #4: Gamifying Formative Assessment With Knowledgehook Gameshow

In this session, we explored the Four Stages of Learning (or Four Stages of Mastery), as I like to call them.

I then shared my vision for mathematics education that I have been refining for the past five years. Here is what it looks like currently:

Mathematics Vision - A Math Lesson in 4-Parts - Contextual, Visual and Concrete

We then jumped into a 3 act math task called “Walk Out“:

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After introducing the initial video and giving some time for you to notice and wonder, we soon added in a digital tool called Knowledgehook Gameshow to make the process interactive. As I mentioned in the session, I would spend time without any digital tool when introducing 3 act math tasks in your classroom to build a community of mathematical thinkers and discourse.

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Session #2: Sparking Curiosity to Promote Inquiry and Productive Struggle

During the second session of the morning, we discussed more strategies to spark curiosity in order to promote inquiry and productive struggle.

The task we focused on during this session was the Counting Candies 3 Act Math Task:

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After introducing the task, we also added a Desmos Custom Activity to the mix:

[DESMOS] Counting Candies 3 Act Math Task


Counting Candy Desmos Activity Builder Activity

This activity supports the Counting Candies 3 Act Math Task in order to introduce the idea of systems of equations.

Access this activity in the following ways:

Session #5: Going Paperless: Digital Handouts and Textbooks in a Snap!

This session was a repeat of session #1.


I hope you enjoyed the two days of mathematics professional learning as much as I did! Looking forward to working with the group from Sewanhaka in New York again in the near future!