Technology Reflection: Use of Ipads in the Classroom

Technology Reflection Assignment

Description/Experience
                In last week’s seminar we learned about using Ipads as a resource in the classroom.  We were shown different apps that teachers can have students use along with a lesson.  One of the apps was a space app about consolations and another was an app that you can use to do math on when learning how to subtract numbers larger than ten. 

Application
                An app about how to carry numbers when subtracting would be a great addition to a math class about subtraction.  This would be targeted to students learning fifth or sixth grade math.  The outcome of the assignment would be a more diverse knowledge of how to solve the math problems and how to use the Ipad for lessons in the future.  To make sure that the students are understanding and doing the work the teacher could have a master sheet with all the answers and tell the students to record the answers to the problems that they are solving on the Ipad.

• The lesson would begin with introducing the students to the math app on their Ipads. 8 minutes
• Students are guided in how to use app and what the objective of the lesson is. 10 minutes
• Students spend 20 minutes using Ipad app to solve math problems.
• Lastly the students report their recorded answers to the teacher and turn in the Ipads. This will take approximately 5 minutes.

Reflection

--Pedagogy-Content:

                                The activity gives the content that the students are learning in another form that what was previously used.  That form is the Ipad app, it allows students to receive learning from a different conduit that most young children are always excited to use.  Some preconceptions are that some students own an Ipad while others don’t and inevitably they will be able to progress through the content faster than others.

--Technology-Pedagogy:

            The Ipad, being the technology in this activity is what the entire activity is based around, therefore it is one of the most important parts of this activity.  This activity is almost classified as seatwork since it is independent work done in class with the answers turned into the teacher at the end of the activity.  In terms of classroom management the teacher is going to have to be very busy making sure each student understands what needs to be done on their Ipad.

--Technology-Content:

                The implementation of the Ipads enhance the students learning of how to subtract with numbers larger than ten because it lets them advance at their own speed and zone of proximal learning.  Without it the teacher has to spend time lecturing, with it the teacher is able to help students that require help.  With the Ipads students are able to manipulate the lesson plans making it more interactive and personal. 

--Technology-Pedagogy-Content:

                The inclusion of this technology to the students can greatly help them in retaining the information being learned.  With direct learning and seatwork the students will get to practice on their own in class with the access to immediate help from the teacher.  This helps teach the content because it gives the students the hands on feeling making it more personal and controllable, they are their own teachers.  This works very well with learning motivation students and appeals to achievement motivation students because they have to turn in their answers at the end of the activity for a grade.   

Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of Emodo

Description/Experience

Edmodo is a online website.  It works as a socializing site similar to Facebook.  The main difference between the two is that Edmodo has a hierarchy system between the student and teacher.  The teacher is given moderator abilities, consequently in complete control of the students account.  It is also useful as a free website to use for students to get links for homework, help, and submitting homework.  

 

Application

The teacher could assign the students to do one of those scavenger hunts that was shown during the seminar.  This assignment would take an entire period.  The first 15 mins would consist of the students making their own accounts with the next 20 mins doing the scavenger hunt to find information.  After the scavenger hunt is completed the students would answer questions that asked them on things that they found and how to use it in different situations.  This would take another 15 minutes filling the entire 50 min. block of instruction.  The learning outcomes would be learning how to use a technology to find information and manipulating the information found for conceptual questioning.  This assignment can be assigned for students ranging middle school to college.  The teacher can observe how the students have learned by collecting the answers to the questions that are given after the scavenger hunt. 

Describe an instructional activity (e.g. part of a lesson plan) where you or your host teacher can incorporate this technology. Consider an activity that can be conducted in 15-20 minutes.

 

Reflection

Since the students are finding the information from the scavenger hunt online and moving at different speeds at least two things would have to happen.  The first being detailed information of what is being searched for on the scavenger hunt along with hints and examples if needed.  The second would be the teacher in the classroom available for any help if needed. 

This technology is very useful to students.  It gives the student the ability to find information and knowledge within seconds.  Without this technology the students would have to spend significantly longer amounts of time searching through books for the same information.

            Being able to use Edmodo for this activity would allow the teacher to know of progress from the computer.  Edmodo allows for students to comment each other making it easier to help each other.  This technology changes the way it was taught before because the students are looking at information that may not be set up in the standard lecture format of a math book etc.  It makes the students come to conclusions and think about what they are looking at before they can understand it. 

           

With the inclusion of Edmodo students can save their progress in the scavenger hunt at literally any time.  This change in technology allows for the students to have access to many different ways to learn the content.  For example a student could use a video, online exercise, or a text to learn about something.   

            The inclusion of this technology to the students can greatly help them in retaining the information being learned.  With group learning, jigsaw, and constructive learning theories the teacher can have the students learn through the computer with each other with different sources for each student.  This also greatly increases the ease of accessibility to the content needed giving the students more time to remember information.