Some 'functions' of ICT in maths teaching - Part 2: Google

Google, probably the most visited website on the internet (Most Popular Websites 2011). All Australian maths teachers will have heard of it, almost all will have used it, but how many will have taken the time to consider the possibilities and issues relating to using it in a maths classroom? Starting with the obvious, students can use Google to find maths related facts and figures, or can they? They can't if no one teaches them how. Does the maths teacher have a roll to play here? When you consider how easily numbers, maths and statistics can be misused and misunderstood, and the known issue of ICT literacy in students, the answer is clearly yes (MCEECDYA 2010).


However, Google's use in the maths classroom can extend far beyond appropriate gathering of information. For a start, Google's suite of applications includes maps, calendars, blogs, spreadsheets and many more tools that could be useful in creating engaging maths projects and class rooms. Further to this, the standard Google search engine can perform calculations and unit conversions. In fact, it is so capable, that if the teacher desired, it could more than replace the roll of the student calculator in early secondary school, and Google can't handle the calculation, it can quickly find a service that can.


Most of our students will go on to use Google for themselves, a lot! Arguably the maths teacher has a roll to play in teaching them to use it to its full mathematical potential. Also, since so many of our students will be using it, and Google itself is a beautiful example of applied maths in action, we have the opportunity to teach our students to use a tool which is not only incredibly useful to them, but is also of intrinsic interest to them as maths students (PPC Training blog 2011).


1. MCEECDYA 2010. 'National Assessment Program -- ICT Literacy Years 6 & 10. Report. 2008, viewed 18 April 2011, http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/verve/_resources/NAP-ICTL_2008_report.pdf


2. PPC training Inc, 2011. http://ppcblog.com/how-google-works/, viewed 18th April 2011.


3. Most Popular Websites, 2011. http://mostpopularwebsites.net/, viewed 18th April 2011.


4. Google. http://www.google.com.au, viewed almost every day.