iPod Touch
As a mobile learning device, the iPod Touch encourages learning anytime, anywhere! Applications available for this digital device support and encourage students to develop a greater understanding of math concepts through the lens of personalized learning.
The value of an iPod Touch as a mobile learning device is its ability to transform student learning behavior. According to research by K-Nect Project (2009), students using this digital device achieved higher test scores. This was attributed to more interactivity between students, teachers, and content.
Digital Math Applications
All of the following digital math applications for the iPod Touch are free.
TouchCalc – the scientific mode in this application offers all the usual functions and operations such as basic arithmetical operations, power, logarithm, roots, trigonometry etc. In the statistics mode students can calculate mean, median, quantil values, variance, standard deviation, range etc (Grades 6 – 12).
BrainPop – students learn something different every day with the free BrainPOP Featured Movie App. After watching BrainPOP’s daily animated movie, they can test their new knowledge with an interactive quiz (Grades 1 – 8).
GraphBook – is a collection of 2D, 3D, and 4D interactive graphing examples. Students can move, pinch, and rotate graphs and fractals in real-time (Grades 8 – 12).
TanGram XL – is the version of popular Tangram. The pieces are handled naturally as students use their fingers to move them or turn them both at once (Grades 5 – 10).
Cash Cow Lite – the objective is simple: students earn money by counting their loose change. Small coins make big coins, and big coins make dollar bills. Things get trickier when they encounter counterfeit money, gold nuggets, and glowing coins (Grades 1 – 5).
Egberta’s Equations – Egberta is a macaw with a nest full of eggs that Cliff the climber wants to eat. Unfortunately, the eggs are on top of a tall cliff. Students help Cliff reach the top and get the eggs by completing equations (Grades K -5).
Math Ref – a free version of the math reference application, Math Ref. This app gives students over 600 helpful formulas, figures, tips, and examples (Grades 9 – 12).
Equation Creator Description – students help finishing equations. They create the equations from any of the available number or operator tiles to form any correct equation. They practice using the four basic mathematical operators with several different settings and modes (Grades 1 – 8).
Number Line – an app which helps students learn fractions, decimals, and percents by ordering equivalent fractions, decimals, and percents on a number line. The Number Line app features multiple levels where the student must drag circles with either a percent, decimal or fraction onto a number line in the correct sequence (Grades 3 – 9).
TriFecta – the object of this problem solving game is to get rid of all three layers of tiles. Students tap the screen to roll the dice, then they choose up to three tiles so that the sum of the tiles is the same as the dice total (Grades 1 – 5).
Math Drills Lite - allows a single student to learn basic math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Explore solutions to problems using number lines, wooden blocks, facts and hints (Grades 3 – 5).
iChoose – is the little metal button that knows your mind. Use the Yes/No, Coin Toss, Dice Roll and Card Choice to explore probabilities (Grades 6 – 12).
iPod Touch
The iPod Touch brings a new dimension to teaching and learning in the science or math classroom – Mobile Learning! No longer are students required to only learn within the confines of their classroom when using this digital tool.
One advantage of these digital devices is portability. This advantage supports the basic tenant of mobile learning. Students explore, investigate, problem solve, and complete assignments from anywhere within or outside the classroom.
A second advantage for using an iPod Touch in science or math classrooms is the motivation students experience when using these devices to learn. This is primarily due to the personalized nature of the device through independent learning, self-expression, and creativity.
Teaching Strategies: How to take Advantage of this Digital Tool
These four teaching strategies take advantage of the power of an iPod Touch to address multiple learning styles in science and math.
- Engage students in active authentic, real-world tasks about content issues which are of interest to them (i.e., project based learning, problem solving, or inquiry based learning).
- Link the processes of student creative media work and critical analysis (i.e., Digital Storytelling, Screencasting, Podcasts, etc.).
- Teach students abstract concepts through the regular connection of observation, experience, and discussion (VoiceThread, Skype, Glogster, SlideShare, iPod Apps, etc.).
- Routinely use of visual, print, and aural for learning and expression (i.e., Vimeo, Animoto, SlideShare, Flash Cards, Teacher Tube, iMovie, Flickr, etc.)
Learning Strategies: Using Web 2.0 Tools with the iPod Touch
Learning strategies which use web 2.0 tools support the basic tenant of mobile learning with an iPod Touch. Students can use this digital device to create, view, or investigate concepts using the following strategies.
- Digital Storytelling – linking project based learning, problem solving, and inquiry based learning with digital storytelling is natural. The integration of digital storytelling technology motivates students, allows them to easily share their work, and encourages collaborative learning. Students can create digital stories with their iPod Touch to explain their problem solving procedures, investigative findings, answers, and conclusions.
- Online Learning – the iPod Touch comes with Safari internet browser for searching for science and math online learning resources. Students can access search engines for finding images, Google, and simulations for learning concepts. One neat tool helps adapt websites to the iPod – Skeezer.com.
- Podcasting – is as an alternative to digital media such as videos, voice, or images. Podcasts created by students provide a digital medium for student expression of concepts, projects, and related themes. Students can use their iPod Touch to record the audio portion of a podcast and then link their audio with videos and images.
- Multisensory Learning – integrating videos, podcasts, and pictures in lessons help students through the use of multisensory learning. These tools allow the use or online resources which are not typically available in any classroom. Students can use their iPod Touch to access these online resources in wireless classrooms, in their home, or anywhere else they have wireless access to the web.
Why use the iPod Touch in science and math is evidenced by its connectedness with teaching and learning. This is confirmation is based on the idea of Bloom’s Taxonomy for the digital age, which focuses primarily on the use of digital tools (such as the iPod Touch) to support higher order thinking skills.
Wolfram
What is Wolfram Alpha? It is a supercomputing brain. It provides calculates and provides comprehensive answers to most any science or math question. Unlike other search sources, you and your students can ask questions in plain language or various forms of abbreviated notation.
Contrary to popular belief, Wolfram Alpha is not a search engine. Unlike popular search engines, which simply retrieve documents based on keyword searches, Wolfram computes answers based on known models of human knowledge. It provides answers which are complete with data and algorithms, representing real-world knowledge.
Teaching Strategies: Researching Facts and Information
Science and math teaching strategies with Wolfram begin with allowing students to search for information about specific facts and information. The following examples provide support for stimulating critical thinking using a digital lens.
Science
One example – physical property:
Another example – comparing a Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, and Polar Bear:
Math
One example – cylinder:
Another example – Quadratic Equation:
Interactive Activities: K-12 Science and Math Resources
The Wolfram Demonstrations Project (Education Portal) is a resource of thousands of ready-to-use models for your classroom. These demonstrations use dynamic computation to bring to life concepts in mathematics and science. They are designed to let your students visualize concepts. These models can be projected and run using a screen or interactive whiteboard. For students to interact with the models, the free Mathematica Player program needs to be downloaded on the computer they are using.
The following images provide a view of science and math resources by grade level.
Using Widgets: Mini-Apps for Specific Queries
One useful feature of Wolfram Alpha is their widgets. These widgets can be added to your teaching blog, class wiki, or interactive lesson when using an interactive white board. You can build your own or use pre-made widgets for both science and math. The following is an example widget – Earthquakes Today (GMT) which shows the location of all earth quakes during the last 24 hours based on a selectable magnitude range.
There is great potential for Wolfram Alpha in science and math classes. This online technological tool adds a new dimension to researching for information and not just finding information on the web. This search tool is that it is also available for the iPod Touch through iTunes.
