Content Object Tools

Choices: Information Literacy vs Content Object Tools

For this tech play, I decided to review content object tools.  I believe students should know information ethics such as copyright laws and digital citizenship. Our computer lab has insightful lessons on this and I could supplement it. However, I wanted to explore some of the apps available on our school iPads.  My district has an app catalog with several apps that I am curious about and have never researched. I am taking the opportunity to do that at this time.

Math Leaper 

This is a drill and practice game. It allows students to select the skills they need to practice by grade level.  Available grades PK-8th.

Likes

5th graders can select from geometry, multiplication, decimals, division, equations, estimation and fractions. This could serve as an intervention tool for students that need extra practice. It keeps challenging you the better you are. The teacher can customize it for individual students. It also provides game results that give a percentage of questions correct, number of questions answered and time spent practicing. I think the students will enjoy this more than I will. It is a cute game. 

Dislikes

It relies on the student to take a screenshot of statistics and share it with the teacher. There are four choices and the student can guess by making a ballpark estimate. Although estimation is a skill and aids in math literacy, exact math computation would be preferable. However, I think it offers engaging practice for the student.

Fractions

This is a creativity tool for math fraction practice.

Likes

It can be used in a small group setting. I can prompt them to show be the desired fraction amounts. It has built-in symbols so the student can make comparisons or equations with <,>,=. It is very visual and hands-on for the student because they control what portions of a bar or circle they want to shade in. I like that students are creating and since its on the iPad there are no actual fraction bars to acquire and pass out and no clean up afterward. I like this as a teacher a lot.

Dislikes

It relies on the student to take a screenshot and share it with the teacher if they are working alone at a station.

Seesaw

This is a formative assessment tool. It is also easy to use eportfolio for students to keep their work on any content!

Likes

Oh my gosh! This tool is amazing. I like that they can keep a portfolio here with all their student work. It is shareable with classmates and parents. There are sample lessons that I can pick from for the students to do in any subject area. This can work as a whole class assignment if I have 1:1 Chromebooks for the day. It also allows me to see who needs clarification because I can see their thinking. On the spot intervention. I like this as an assessment for me but I love it as an option for a portfolio for the students. It can show their progress and they can reflect on their learning.

Dislikes

None at this time. I would have to have my students try it. Hopefully, my wi-fi can handle it. It seems amazing.

Rocketbook

This is a productivity tool. It allows the user to write out notes or math problems on a special notebook and then snap a picture of it and share it with anyone. It can be sent to shared google drive, google classroom, email or shared dropbox folder. Then they wipe it clean and the same pages can be reused again.

Likes

Another oh my gosh! Students can work through math problems on this special notebook and use the app to share it with me in google classroom for grading. It is great for station work and no papers to lose or hand back. It is all graded google classroom and returned to the student via the same medium. It can work with any subject. In science, they can write a reflection after a lab or create a Frayer model of an academic word. I, the teacher, don't have to carry papers around. I just need a device to sign in to my google drive or google classroom to check their work for understanding. Students throw their papers away anyway, now I'll have a virtual way to keep them for them. We can revisit them, without having to empty lockers, backpacks or desks. I like this a lot for my sanity, but I like how it may organize some of my disorganized students.

Dislikes

I have a set of 12 rocketbooks in my classroom and the app is on my iPads. I worry about the handwriting with the special pen.

TPACK MODEL

Using Seesaw a specific content objective in Math I would address is: 5.2B compare and order two decimals to thousandths and represent comparisons using the symbols >, <, or =, the pedagogical approach I would use is collaborative in partner pairs. This constructivist philosophy keeps the students active and social in their learning so that they may learn from each other and retain the information. As a new school year begins this content objective is a review of previous learning. In Seesaw I can search in the activity library for this specific TEK and an activity is already available. This affords the teacher a time savings in creating something.  The lesson is already in the files and can be shared with all students. The partner groups can work through the lesson and submit their work. I can instantly see who will need some intervention and more practice. In addition, the students will have an artifact to include in their portfolio for the beginning of the year. While I work with those who need extra help, accomplished students may write a brief reflection on how they worked out the problem. They can additionally state the level of difficulty and if they desire more practice on the objective. This was a very specific content objective but I love that Seesaw can accommodate any content. The student is in control of their learning and the technology affords reflection.

OTHER TOOLS

Math Leaper, Fractions and Rocketbook could not accomplish the same objective. At least, not with all the affordances Seesaw has to offer. Rockebook might come close but it is missing the on the spot intervention.  The paper would have to be graded by me later to see who needed help. I could use the affordance of rocketbook for those who needed or requested more practice and a workstation though.  Math Leaper could also be used as a practice for those needing additional practice. I could tie in the fractions app since decimals can be represented as fractions. Oh wow, I can see all the apps I explored being used at the conclusion of the whole group Seesaw activity. Fantastic! I am definitely using this lesson at the beginning of the school year. It supports student learning and integrates technology seamlessly. It keeps it very student-centered and collaborative. All I need to add is an exit ticket at the end to provide evidence of learning from all.