“Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of iPads”

Description/Experience

In the last seminar a teacher from West Milford Elementary school talked to us about implementing iPads in the classroom. She described how using iPads in the classroom can be very beneficial to students.  She showed us a video of her son’s digital story. I was impressed by how useful iPads can be in the classroom. I had never imagined using that kind of technology in the classroom. I really like how there was an app to work on math problems.

Application

The activity that I would like to use incorporating the iPads would be a math activity. The age group that I would be working with would be third or fourth graders. The learners will gain a greater understanding of doing subtraction that involves borrowing. By the end of this activity students will feel more confident in completing math subtraction problems that require borrowing. After completing the activity I would give students a small quiz similar to the problems that I had them complete on the iPad to see if the activity was a success. I would know that my activity was effective if my students were able to complete the quiz that I gave them successfully.

To begin the activity I would give the students in-depth overview of the activity. I would tell them that we would be working on subtracting using the iPads. This would take only about a minute or so to explain the activity. Next, I would give the students ten minutes to work on the assigned math problems. (Prior to the activity we would have worked on similar problems on the board.) As the students work on the problems, I would walk around to check on the students to see if any of them were having difficulties. After the ten minutes are over, I would have the students stop working and we would go over all of the assigned problems given. After going over the problems, I would give the students a practice quiz to test their understanding of the concepts of borrowing. If students completed the quiz with little difficulty, I would know that the activity was a success.

Reflection

--Pedagogy-Content:

To represent the content to make it comprehensible to students I would go over numerous examples of subtraction problems involving borrowing. I would make sure that the examples that I went over prior to the activity would be similar to the problems that I assigned in the activity. When learning this content, students from different ages and backgrounds might be on different math levels. It would be my job to make sure that all of the content was suitable for all students. I would be concerned about students’ prior knowledge in math classes. Depending on what point in the school year that I assigned this activity I might be more concerned than other times. For example, if I assigned this activity near the end of the school year my concern might not be bad because I would be aware of my students’ strengths and weaknesses. It would also be imperative that I motivate my students. Math can be a very difficult subject for many students so motivation is very important.

--Technology-Pedagogy:

The iPad would be used in this activity as a motivational tool for students. Because math is very difficult for some students, motivation is very important for success. Using the iPad could be a way for students to get excited to learn math. Using the iPad would reinforce what I was teaching. I would teach the material first by using an interactive whiteboard. Using that technology I would introduce the material. Using the iPad would reiterate the material that I was teaching through numerous practice problems. I would need to make sure that all students were using the iPads responsibly. Because iPads are so expensive students would have to be sure to use them with respect and responsibly. I would reward students who used the iPads appropriately with extrinsic reinforcers such as being able to use the iPads during free time to play educational games.

--Technology-Content:

Using the iPads would enhance students’ motivation when learning difficult material such as subtraction with borrowing. The iPads would also provide student with several hands on practice problems to expand their knowledge of subtraction with borrowing. If I were to teach this material without the iPad I feel that students might not be as motivated or interested in learning the material. Although learning the material would be possible without the iPad, I feel that using the iPad would sufficiently enhance the experience. The iPad would enhance the way that students practice and understand the content by having hands on practice using the iPad. Using the iPad would highly motivate the students in comparison to traditional ways of teaching which would significantly help students learn the material.

--Technology-Pedagogy-Content:

I feel that the content can be effectively taught by my teaching strategies in this activity and by the iPad because it increases students’ motivation levels which will make students want to learn. Using the iPad also allows students to have extensive practice problems which will ultimately increase their comprehension levels. I think that using the iPad may enhance teaching math because it gives students the opportunity to use an interactive tool to practice the material that we will be working on. The iPad will enhance how I teach because it will be a reinforcer for the material I teach my students. I would choose which teaching strategies that I implemented based on my students needs. If I felt that some students needed more practice problems prior to using the iPads I would work with them more extensively then have them practice on their own using the iPad.