It All Comes Down to Knowing Your Students

What did I learn and what are the implications for classroom practice?

This week I learned another reason why it is so important to get to know your students - and - why group work is such a beneficial "tool" for teachers and students alike.  I was introduced to Wolfram Alpha, which is an answer engine (rather than a search engine), that students can use to find answers to math problems (and just about everything else!).  Wolfram also displays the work involved to solve the problems.  Students who are using the engine simply to copy down the answers (and the steps involved), aren't "learning" HOW to solve the problems.   In this instance, an answer engine would be working against what a teacher is trying to do.  However, if a student is using the engine to study how the problem is solved in order to LEARN how to do it on their own, then the answer engine would be a positive learning tool.  Can we tell without an assessment which student is which?   If we know our students well, we should be able to have a pretty accurate educated guess.    

Why is this a concern?  Because more and more students have possession of technology with them in class capable of using answer engines, such as Wolfram Alpha.  Since we will not know whether a student is using it to copy down answers or to learn how to solve the problems on their own, group work (designed like Robin's) rather than having students do worksheets with multiple problems - avoids the temptation/possibility for students to copy answers, and encourages all students to be engaged and "forces" all students to understand WHAT is being learned during the process.  (I do not think that technology in the classroom is a negative tool - it all depends on how and why it is being used.  Many teachers are creating powerful lessons using technology in the classroom!).

I also learned, partly from my own personal experience in class, that it is very important to assess your students before beginning a new unit.  Knowing where they are at now will help in planning your unit, and all the lessons that go into it. The first lesson you plan may need to include review of (or introduce new material) to some students. This can be done in a group project when you know where your students are at. 

My question is, how do we continue forward with the move toward using technology in the classroom (when appropriate) when there are so many students who do not have the access to the devices?  And when some schools (and districts) are in the same boat?