Helping Your Child Master the Times Tables - The Element of Technology in Learning

One area where many children struggle with learning is the introduction of the times tables. The whole concept behind multiplication can be confusing for young minds. Luckily, there are a few things parents can do to help their children to learn and memorise the basics of the times tables, a cornerstone of all future math study.

One of the simplest ways to aid your child when he or she is learning the times tables is to add technology to the home learning environment. Software for learning can add important elements to the whole process of learning and memorisation.

How technology aids in learning the times tables

In William Bender's book, Differentiating Math Instruction, he notes that there are many elements to effective math learning - support at home is very important, as is visual instruction and an interactive learning environment.

Technology can add all of the above to the learning process, as well as some other important elements:

1. A visual element: For some students, reading straight from the textbook, or just listening to a teacher, isn't enough. With technology-based learning, the software, the colors and the different way of presenting the material itself all add visual cues that aid most students in learning.

2. Interactivity: An interactive learning environment, where the student can receive immediate feedback on his or her work, helps with faster learning. Technology-based learning usually includes this level of interactivity, without the need for parent or teacher intervention (although, of course, parental involvement enhances the learning experience).

3. Memorisation: Another benefit of computer-based learning is that it aids in memorisation. A study done with students in Korea showed that, once a student has a basic grasp of a concept, the best way to further aid memorisation is repetitive review and testing of the material. Most computer-based learning materials provide this element.

4. The fun factor: Finally, most children enjoy working with computers and technology. Using computer-aided learning tools adds the element of enjoyment which can help a child to develop a love for math.

When it comes to this crucial building block of all future math study, adding a computer-based element can help your child to learn and memorise the times tables faster. Tools, such as our own Times Tables Tutor, will help with this. Sometimes, real learning comes with simple methods. For parents who want to help their children grow in math, the computer can be an indispensable tool.

Greg O'Connor, a qualified teacher, runs a business consultancy specialising in designing and constructing very complex customised financial models for a wide range of businesses. He has combined his spreadsheeting skills and teaching experience to develop the Times Tables Tutor - http://www.timestablestutor.com - a highly innovative, fully automated, spreadsheet-based (Excel) times tables learning tool. With all features operated at the click of a button, Times Tables Tutor is incredibly easy to use, even for parents and children who have never used a spreadsheet before. This is the third in a series of five articles offering suggestions to parents on how they can assist their kids to master the times tables.