From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Dan Meyer has long been a powerful voice for how to teach math in engaging ways. In today's “edtech tool Tuesday,” he starts the show with a shocking assertion. “These are very powerful devices. They can be used to powerfully dull a student’s mind.” Oh my! We don't want that. But how do we teach math today?

In a world of technology and AI, many math teachers feel the negative impact of technology on their math classes. They wonder if there is a better way. Desmos is a free tool with powerful features for understanding math. But is there a time to use it and a time not to use it? Also, Dan shares features of Amplify and how it can help in teaching math. Teaching math seems harder than ever in today's world. In this episode, Dan invites us to rethink how we truly engage students in learning math.

You can make math click for every student. This episode will give you tools, inspiration, and fresh ideas to try right away.

Dan is also featured on our two extended episodes on math from the Cool Cat Teacher Talk show at www.coolcatteacher.com/talkmath. Cool Cat Teacher Talk is my new radio/tv/YouTube show.

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Teaching Math in 2025 with Dan Meyer – YouTube

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Teaching Math in 2025 with Dan Meyer – Podcast Audio

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Key Takeaways

Shift From Delivery to Connection

Dan Meyer challenges the traditional role of tech in math classrooms. “It’s not about what content we give students. It’s about what connections they can create.” Instead of pushing lessons into students, we should design tools that respond to their thinking—like Desmos.

Why Desmos Engages Differently

Tools like sliders, live graphing, and collaborative response displays allow students to see math come alive. “They change a number, and the world responds,” Dan says. It’s that cause-and-effect exploration that makes math interactive and real.

Embed Professional Learning Into Daily Tools

Professional development shouldn’t be limited to after-school workshops. Dan details how Amplify’s tools assist teachers in learning while they teach. They provide just-in-time insights, such as, “Here’s what students often get wrong—what will you do?”

Start With What Students Know

“If I could change one thing,” Dan says. “It would be for every teacher to ask: What do these kids know right now?” Engagement starts with curiosity—not just about content, but about students.

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