Megan Barnett
EMAT 4680-Tu/Th
Aug. 26, 2000
Assignment #1
Reaction Paper
My reaction to "A Revolution in My High School Classroom" was similar to the reaction Ms. Burrill had on calculators; I liked it. I enjoyed reading this handout because it kept my full attention and I could relate to the topic being discussed. You see, last year I had a teacher who did not allow the use of calculators in his classroom. I felt as if I were being held back and unable to comprehend intense mathematical problems. I wanted to learn what the square root of large numbers were or to examine the way particular functions looked like together on a graph but I was denied the access to such higher learning because we could not us our calculators. I believe that in today's day and age, the use of a calculator in the mathematical environment is a necessity in order to produce higher educational levels with the students.
The reaction I came across after reading "The Technology Principle" was very similar to the first reading. For once in my life, I completely agree with what a book has to say. The topics discussed throughout the technology principle were accurate and informing and allowed myself to feel good about my opinion on calculators and other fine technologies used in the mathematics environment. As an educator, I will follow the guidelines under the technology principle and make calculators an essential tool in my teaching atmosphere. I believe these tools are the key to a higher education and I also believe that without the use of such technologies, we are denying the student's right for a better education.
In closing, the two assigned readings expressed the importance of technology in today's classrooms. I strongly agree with all they had to say and all they had to offer. The experience of not being able to use a calculator in one of my math classes enabled myself to have a stronger reaction to the topics that were discussed. When the time comes for me to be an educator, technology will play a big role in the student's education.