These past few months have seen a lot of changes.
We are no longer attempting eLearning, as the website is rarely functional, or lacks content. We have adapted our learning goals and the use of technology to reflect Math communication through the use of various Apps.
Students evaluated several Apps used in the classroom. Students are most comfortable using Explain Everything and feel that this App can help share their math strategies and thinking. We have used other Apps, such as Socrative, which provides students with instant feedback as to whether their answers are correct or incorrect.
IXL and Prodigy were used frequently in the classroom, and the students enjoyed these sites. IXL requires a membership, so they can only do 20 questions a day. We purchased a membership for Prodigy, and students were engaged and loving it, but since the March Break, the website has been blocked at the Board level. These two websites were two fantastic ways to engage students in learning Math.
Students have become independent and comfortable in using these apps and are much more engaged in Math, than they were with the more traditional way of showing their thinking. They no longer require explicit instructions when given a Math problem. They are persevering through challenging problems using technology, to help support and show their ideas.
Although comfortable with technology, they are still learning to improve their communication, and know that this will be expected of them during Math time. Because they hear their peers' explanations, it helps them set goals to improve their own communication.
With two months left in the school year, we are continuing to collect evidence and data of student learning, and these apps will continue to be used beyond this year.
We are no longer attempting eLearning, as the website is rarely functional, or lacks content. We have adapted our learning goals and the use of technology to reflect Math communication through the use of various Apps.
Students evaluated several Apps used in the classroom. Students are most comfortable using Explain Everything and feel that this App can help share their math strategies and thinking. We have used other Apps, such as Socrative, which provides students with instant feedback as to whether their answers are correct or incorrect.
IXL and Prodigy were used frequently in the classroom, and the students enjoyed these sites. IXL requires a membership, so they can only do 20 questions a day. We purchased a membership for Prodigy, and students were engaged and loving it, but since the March Break, the website has been blocked at the Board level. These two websites were two fantastic ways to engage students in learning Math.
Students have become independent and comfortable in using these apps and are much more engaged in Math, than they were with the more traditional way of showing their thinking. They no longer require explicit instructions when given a Math problem. They are persevering through challenging problems using technology, to help support and show their ideas.
Although comfortable with technology, they are still learning to improve their communication, and know that this will be expected of them during Math time. Because they hear their peers' explanations, it helps them set goals to improve their own communication.
With two months left in the school year, we are continuing to collect evidence and data of student learning, and these apps will continue to be used beyond this year.