This document discusses tools that can be used to teach basic math concepts. It notes that Filipino students perform poorly in math and identifies challenges like lack of resources in public schools. To address these issues, the document explores how information and communication technologies (ICT) like graphing calculators, Microsoft Excel, instructional videos and online resources can be used as tools to teach math in engaging ways. However, it also acknowledges limitations due to difficulties accessing these tools. It concludes by emphasizing the need to address resource inadequacies and provide teacher training to help educators utilize ICT effectively.

1. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Lucky Galvez
Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines
Diliman
May 15, 2009

2. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
Mathematics, to most, is a complex subject. The tendency for most
students is to consider the subject as one that is boring, thus, creating
lack of interest in the topics being discussed. This poses a great
challenge for teachers and educators, especially in the primary and
intermediate levels, wherein a good study habit and a firm grasp of
basic concepts should be developed.

3. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
Mathematics, to most, is a complex subject. The tendency for most
students is to consider the subject as one that is boring, thus, creating
lack of interest in the topics being discussed. This poses a great
challenge for teachers and educators, especially in the primary and
intermediate levels, wherein a good study habit and a firm grasp of
basic concepts should be developed.
The coming of the Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) also poses a great hindrance in the development of students’
study habits. Studies reveal that though most students nowadays are
more computer literate, particularly the internet, their interest are in
gaming, entertainment and social networking, rather than in academic
purposes. As a result, students attention span, specially in the
classroom, significantly decreased and study hours are lessened.

4. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
ICT and Education in the Philippines
Filipino students perform poorly in Math and Sciences
In the 2003 National Achievement Test, the average grade is 44%
for elementary and 36% for secondary level. Students scored
poorly in Science and Math

5. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
ICT and Education in the Philippines
Filipino students perform poorly in Math and Sciences
In the 2003 National Achievement Test, the average grade is 44%
for elementary and 36% for secondary level. Students scored
poorly in Science and Math
In TIMMS 2003, the Philippines ranked 41st out of 45 countries
in Mathematics.

6. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
ICT and Education in the Philippines
Filipino students perform poorly in Math and Sciences
In the 2003 National Achievement Test, the average grade is 44%
for elementary and 36% for secondary level. Students scored
poorly in Science and Math
In TIMMS 2003, the Philippines ranked 41st out of 45 countries
in Mathematics.
There is a shortage of almost 50, 000 teachers, and the result:
teachers teaching multiple subjects

7. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
ICT and Education in the Philippines
The biggest problem is the deficiency of adequate resources, specially
in public schools.
65% of public schools still does not have electricity.

8. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
ICT and Education in the Philippines
The biggest problem is the deficiency of adequate resources, specially
in public schools.
65% of public schools still does not have electricity.
Public schools have limited access to phone lines and internet

9. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
ICT and Education in the Philippines
The biggest problem is the deficiency of adequate resources, specially
in public schools.
65% of public schools still does not have electricity.
Public schools have limited access to phone lines and internet
Less than half of public secondary school teahers and students
had been able to use computers as educational tool

10. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
ICT and Education in the Philippines
The biggest problem is the deficiency of adequate resources, specially
in public schools.
65% of public schools still does not have electricity.
Public schools have limited access to phone lines and internet
Less than half of public secondary school teahers and students
had been able to use computers as educational tool
Lack of teacher training in the use of ICT as an alternative
teaching tool.

11. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
The Role of the Teacher
Amidst these problems, as mathematics teachers, we want to address
this issue. We ask the question:

12. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
The Role of the Teacher
Amidst these problems, as mathematics teachers, we want to address
this issue. We ask the question:
How do we use Information and Communication Technology to bring
students’ interest in Mathematics?

13. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
The Role of the Teacher
Amidst these problems, as mathematics teachers, we want to address
this issue. We ask the question:
How do we use Information and Communication Technology to bring
students’ interest in Mathematics?
We formulate new methods of teaching mathematics using ICT. With
the limited resources we have, the challenge is on the creation of
teaching methods using the readily available resources.

14. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
The Role of the Teacher
The trends nowadays is interactive and more visual class discussion.
This arouses students’ interest and gives them the idea that
mathematical concepts is indeed a fun learning activity.

15. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
The Role of the Teacher
The trends nowadays is interactive and more visual class discussion.
This arouses students’ interest and gives them the idea that
mathematical concepts is indeed a fun learning activity.
For instance,
before discussing formulas, it is better to let the students discover
certain patterns by some examples with the use of computing
devices.
formulation of proofs is better when students are able to
”‘interact”’ with the figures.

16. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Introduction
The Role of the Teacher
The trends nowadays is interactive and more visual class discussion.
This arouses students’ interest and gives them the idea that
mathematical concepts is indeed a fun learning activity.
For instance,
before discussing formulas, it is better to let the students discover
certain patterns by some examples with the use of computing
devices.
formulation of proofs is better when students are able to
”‘interact”’ with the figures.
relationship between variables can be better understood when
students are able to see the effects of changing one variable

17. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Graphing Calculators
The basic computation device that we are all familiar of have evolved
to serve better purposes than just mere computing.

18. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
Microsoft Excel
more than just spreadsheet

19. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
Microsoft Excel
more than just spreadsheet
can be used to develop pattern recognition

20. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
Microsoft Excel
more than just spreadsheet
can be used to develop pattern recognition
can be used to discuss relationships between quantities, what
changes and what are constant

21. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
Microsoft Excel
more than just spreadsheet
can be used to develop pattern recognition
can be used to discuss relationships between quantities, what
changes and what are constant
can be used to generate histograms, graphs and in the
interpretation of statistical data

22. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
Microsoft Excel
more than just spreadsheet
can be used to develop pattern recognition
can be used to discuss relationships between quantities, what
changes and what are constant
can be used to generate histograms, graphs and in the
interpretation of statistical data
can be used in modelling solving simple word problems

23. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
Other Softwares
examples are Microsoft Math, Derive algebra Software, Cabri
Geometry Software

24. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
Other Softwares
examples are Microsoft Math, Derive algebra Software, Cabri
Geometry Software
explains the geometric aspects of algebra, calculus, etc

25. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
shows explanation, as well as visual interpretation of theorems,
axioms and postulates

26. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
shows explanation, as well as visual interpretation of theorems,
axioms and postulates
some softwares show detailed steps in solving

27. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Softwares
shows explanation, as well as visual interpretation of theorems,
axioms and postulates
some softwares show detailed steps in solving
easily generates graphs and provides interactive lessons
Figure 1: An example of using Cabri

28. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Instructional Videos
Instructional Videos
readily available in the market

29. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Instructional Videos
Instructional Videos
readily available in the market
provides an alternative to classroom learning

30. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Instructional Videos
Instructional Videos
readily available in the market
provides an alternative to classroom learning
interactive and creative in presenting subject matters

31. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Utilizing the Internet
Utilizing the Internet
It is our task as teachers to introduce our students to the academic
aspects of using the internet. There are a lot of internet sites
providing interactive learning tools for students.

32. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Utilizing the Internet
Utilizing the Internet
It is our task as teachers to introduce our students to the academic
aspects of using the internet. There are a lot of internet sites
providing interactive learning tools for students.
Instructional videos with topics in Mathematics are also available
even in YouTube.

33. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Tools in Teaching Mathematics
Utilizing the Internet
Utilizing the Internet
It is our task as teachers to introduce our students to the academic
aspects of using the internet. There are a lot of internet sites
providing interactive learning tools for students.
Instructional videos with topics in Mathematics are also available
even in YouTube.
Some provides free software.

34. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Limitations
ICT offers help in providing promising alternative tools and methods
of instructions for mathematics teachers. However, these tools are
limited only to a certain level of difficulty of problems. Also, the
availability of the resources needed to utilize these tools efficiently
poses a greater problem.

35. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Conclusion
Although tools are readily available for educators, the inadequacy of
the facilities is the first problem that needs to be solved.

36. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Conclusion
Although tools are readily available for educators, the inadequacy of
the facilities is the first problem that needs to be solved.
Although these tools will be a graet help, it is still the teacher’s
encouragement and creativity to come up with exciting ways to
present subject matters using these tools which is the greater factor.

37. Tools in Teaching Basic Math
Conclusion
Although tools are readily available for educators, the inadequacy of
the facilities is the first problem that needs to be solved.
Although these tools will be a graet help, it is still the teacher’s
encouragement and creativity to come up with exciting ways to
present subject matters using these tools which is the greater factor.
I therefore, personally recommend more teacher trainings to
familiarize mathematics teachers with the latest technological trends,
as well as knowledge in programming, that can help them improve
student performance.