It isn’t uncommon for me to see the students pull out their iPhone in class, not necessarily to text a friend, but to use the calculator option provided. The question arises, do we want this technology usage encouraged in the classrooms? The overwhelming answer seems to be yes.

A recent article, Digitally Aided Education, Using the Student’s Own Electronic Gear, the New York Times discussed the idea of student technology aiding classroom discussion.  We can talk about the difference between an iPad and an iPhone, but really what it boils down to is the question of whether this technology can be used appropriately to support and challenge student learning.

For the past year there has been a growth in the technology schools provide for students – technology including the iPad.  It was more than two years ago when The New York Times published the article,  Math That Moves: Schools Embrace the iPad, and since there have been an overwhelmingly amount of growth in this area.  Classrooms using the iPad, and other similar technology, to support the students, encourage engagement, and develop an atmosphere that meets the students where they are already thriving – technology.

It is easy to see where this fits into history and English – subjects where an iPad diminishes the need to carry heavy textbooks and commentaries, but how in mathematics? Despite the article’s title, the above mentioned entry doesn’t say much on the benefit to the mathematics classroom.

For that I can focus your attention on the numerous math provoking apps that have already been developed, or I can turn your gaze to a new era of mathematics textbooks – found on your handy dandy, hand-held, technological device.

I was recently at a mathematics conference when I met a few dashing young men of whom had made interactive iPad textbooks, and I wanted to share these with you.  http://schoolyourself.org/ brings you to the site where you can look at their Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus books, see a demo, or just browse.  I’m not quite sure if I like this interactive textbook concept, but it is something to think about in the era of bringing your own technology .