Posted by David Wetzel
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).
Posted by David Wetzel
Are you searching for a way to share documents, presentations, slideshows, or a series of photos or images with your students?
Then Voice Thread is the free Web 2.0 tool for you and your students (teachers can register for a free education account).
Voice Thread allows you and your students to add audio, video, and text as part of conversations concerning science or math content.
Comments can be added using a pre-recorded audio file, microphone, call from a phone, or webcam and microphone.
A Voice Thread allows group conversations to be collected and shared in one place, from anywhere in the world. This is great when your class is collaborating on a project with students in another time zone or other locations around the world.
Strategies for Both Science and Math
The following are examples which work well in either math or science
1. Students create a presentation about a concept and then embed their presentation in a Glogster poster.
2. Students use Voice Threads created by both teacher and other students which are embedded in a class Wiki or Blog for use to review concepts or examples:
- prior to a test or exam.
- work missed after being absent.
3. Students create a recording of a debate using one slide for pro and another for a con position.
4. Students watch a video related to a concept and add their comments, ideas, or suggestions related to the video.
5. Students use Voice Thread to create digital stories to explain ideas.
6. Students integrate documents created – presentations, word documents, spreadsheets, polls – in Google Docs within their Voice Thread presentations.
7. Back to School Night – take photos of your classroom and students working, then post on your Wiki or Blog for parents who are unable to attend.
Math Teaching Strategies
Students show multiple strategies for solving a problem. This strategy promotes student ownership, while using the language of mathematics.
For example – using a digital image of data within a table, several or all students record a different strategies or make comments about how they solved the problem using data analysis.
Have students explain a new math concept using images to support their explanation.
For example – students create a collection of geometric digital images. Then compare and contrast the images by adding their comments.
Additional math ideas:
1. How to write and solve linear equations.
2. Provide examples and explanations of various forms of display for data sets, including a stem-and-leaf plot or box-and-whisker plot; use the forms to display a single set of data or to compare with sets of data.
3. Provides examples and explanations for percents as a part of a hundred; find decimal and percent equivalents for common fractions and explain why they represent the same value; compute a given percent of a whole number.
Science Teaching Strategies
Students are studying arthropods which have an exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae. They create a digital Voice Thread of examples of these insects with explanations.
For example – Digital Insect Collection
Students create a Voice Thread presentation to communicate their findings in a science project. This strategy ensures each student within a group participates, because every student must contribute to part of the presentation using their own voice for facts and comments.
For example – Road Kill Project
Additional science ideas:
1. Provide examples of reflection and refraction along with explanations.
2. Provide examples of each type of biome found around the world.
3. Debate the issue of global warming using facts and data presented in a Voice Thread.
Using Voice Thread creates an interactive classroom which can be used in almost any science and math grade level. Teachers can use this Web 2.0 tool for digital storytelling of concepts by students, causing critical thinking, student project presentations, and even a tool for assessment.
Posted by David Wetzel
Fractions
Math games are a great way to help students improve their math facts accuracy. These games can be general math or focus on a specific math concept such as, solving integers.
One math game is called “Fraction Face-Off.” This game can also be modified to address a varied of math concepts.
Math Game
Materials
These materials are for one pair or group of students.
- 50 - 3×5 note cards (One deck per pair of students)
- markers
- scissors
- Cut 3×5 cards in half
- Write fractions on each set of cards
- Shuffle both decks
Procedures
These procedures are for one pair of students.
- Player 1 and 2 lay down the top 2 cards in their deck - face up
- Player 1 adds their 2 cards
- Player 2 does the same
- Students compare answers and the player with the highest answer keeps all 4 cards (place in a separate pile).
- Continue playing until all fraction cards are used
- The player with the most cards wins
Extension Activities
The following are additional strategies for using this math game.
- Mixed Number Face-Off
- Multiplication Face-Off
- Division Face-Off
- Algebraic Expressions Face-Off
- Combination Face-Off (using a combination of the above card games)
Connections
The emphasis of this game is on helping students develop a thorough understanding of math concepts, through making connections between math concepts currently being studied and previously studied math concepts.
Resources
The following are additional resources for helping your students develop a greater understanding of math facts.
Math Teaching Strategies that Challenge Students
5 Misconceptions in Elementary Math
Comments:
Filed Under: Math
