Question Of The Week

How does a teacher ensure that technology use will enhance instruction and not be a distraction or a disconnected add-on?
It is the responsibility of the teacher to be reflective of teaching style, content, and classroom and individual need.  If any teaching method is not increasing the knowledge of the student than changes need to be made.  If the attention of the students is fading the atmosphere needs to be ramped up and can be done with technology.  If the class is getting distracted then a teacher nay need to trim or cut as necessary.
I think in the case of math there will be opportunities to use technology to enhance the instruction and understanding of mathematical concepts.  I have had the opportunity over the last two years to take math classes at the university that integrated online homework assignments.  The access to virtual textbooks and online homework meant that I spent less on books, had less weight to carry around and could work on homework wherever I had access to a computer with internet.  Another benefit to the online homework option as a student was I would immediately see if my response was correct.  If not there was access to guided solutions that walked my through the process and then I could try another problem without having the previous wrong answer count against me.  It made for very good practice.  The benefits for the professors was that the program grades the work immediately and therefore lessens the amount of time spent in grading assignments and trying to get them back to the students in a reasonable amount of time.  It was also a way to enhance the lecture by having guided solutions that support what was discussed in the classroom.
Ultimately, a teacher will need to be flexible and prepared with backup plans to assess the needs of the students as they learn.