21st Century Classroom with iPods

I found this video that is wonderful for talking about how iPods can be used in the classrooms.  Another great idea is captured here!

Basic Fractions App- 4th Grade Math SOLs 4.2, 4.3, 4.9

After I had created several videos about fractions I had the greatest discovery!  I found the Basic Fractions app.  It is free and has videos to teach all about fractions.  It teaches the 4th Grade Math SOLs 4.2, 4.3 and 4.9.  It also teaches SOLs for 5th and 6th grade as well.  The students or teacher can choose which video to watch and each video is divided into different sections, so the video can be started or stopped at any place that is appropriate for the individual lesson or student's needs.
Click here for the link to the App-   Basic Fractions App link through iTunes

Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions 4th Grade Math SOL 4.2

My students used this video to help them learn how to convert improper fractions to mixed numbers.  It was very helpful to each of them as they could return to the video at anytime to help them remember the process and steps to achieve this goal.  Near the end of the video the students were to pause it and convert an improper fraction to a mixed number and they were to draw a picture to show the fraction.  

Amazing Differientiation

The iPod usage in my classroom has allowed for amazing differientiation during my math lessons.  The students are able to use the iPod videos that I have created to reenforce the skills that we are learning.  As needed, the students will watch the videos, pausing when necessary, as a reminder of what steps to take during problem solving.  This past week, I was able to give several of my students this blog address and they could watch the videos at home when needed for homework help.  I hope this becomes more useful over time and as more videos are created.

The Horizon on New Trends in Technology

The Horizon Report- A Reflection for EDET 650

After reading the Horizon Report for 2011, it was exciting to see Electronic Books, Mobiles, Augmented Reality and Game- Based Learning as the top four adoptions within the next 3 years. The horizon of Mobile devices really tops the list as far as I am concerned. It is as if most of the other advances rely on mobiles. The accessibility, and the “always- connectedness” makes the mobiles applicable in all aspects of life. It is through these mobiles that the e-books, game-based learning, augmented reality, and gesture-based computing all comes together into a neat little package.

Being able to access electronic books on mobiles is really exciting in the realm of education. About two years ago, I was introduced to electronic books through a friend who had purchased a Kindle. After investigation, I purchased one with an Educational grant. After that purchase, I became aware of the fact that the app could be downloaded to computers and other mobile devices. The educational benefits of the electronic books are phenomenal. Being able to display an electronic text for the class to examine together, motivating slow readers, allowing non-readers to “listen” to audio books while having the text in front of them are some of the benefits that have been practical uses in my classroom. As more books and journals become available electronically, and can be viewed on various mobile devices it means being able to get multiple resources into students' hands quicker, easier and with less expense. Another advantage to electronic books that I have experienced in my personal family, is the way it helps people with visual impairments. Since texts can be enlarged it has made reading so much easier and has made many more texts available to those with vision problems.

Upon reading of the other advances in technology mentioned in this report, the same idea kept returning to my thinking- mobiles are what it is all about! From being able to access electronic books on mobiles, teaching students through games that are played individually or collaboratively and soon with more gesture- based computing, and of course the augmented reality accessibility on a mobile, mobiles are the most important advance mentioned in this report. They will be what get students away from “sitting, listening and parroting” learning to “up and doing, thinking, creating, interactive learning” preparing them for these new horizons they will experience within the next five years. Wonder what will be on next year's report? Life as an educator and student is definitely on the horizon!

Adding and Subtraction Fractions with Like and Unlike Denominators Video

This video was created to introduce my students to adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators.  It covers a lot of material but with the interactive nature of the video, I believe it is appropriate.  After the lesson, the student will continue to practice this skill and will be able to refer to the video to help them at anytime.

 

After the students used the video, I asked them to comment about it. 

Here are some of their comments:

"It helped me because I sometimes have trouble with fractions."

"The best part was that you can pause it and then it showed me how to do the work."

"It helped me more than any other video and I thought it was very nicely done."

"Can you make it longer to help people understand more?"

"Pretty helpful although I might have liked it to be quicker."

"The video helped me alot because it made things more clear."

"I like how the video gave alot of detail."
"The video helped me because it told me step-by-step."

Fraction Factory App

My students are learning to identify fractions this week.  Today I had them use the Fraction Factory app after we reviewed fractions being part of a whole.  While playing for about 10 minutes, they were to find 5 fractions that they could remember.  I then had them write those five fractions and draw a picture to show the fraction as part of the whole.  We have not yet discussed the relationship between decimals and fractions so as the saw those decimals pop up near the top of the screen, they were surprised and began to see a relationship.  The extension lesson from the game connected what we have been learning about fractions to the number line concept.  The students loved it and seem to see more relevance in the app other than just trying to beat the clock.

12 App

There is an App called 12.  It has students find three digits that are side by side on the screen and have the sum of 12.  The choices come from the digits 2,3,4,5,6.  Before having my students play this game, they were to think of all of the combinations of 3 of the above digits that have a sum of 12.                                        For example: 2 + 4 + 6 = 12; 5 + 5 + 2 = 12... Then the students could play the game.  The game is challenging because it is difficult to find the combinations in the time given.  It is a good game for practicing adding 3 digits and for being very careful observers.

Dictionary.com App

My students use the dictionary.com app almost daily.  It is a wonderful app and is so easy to use.  My students have been taught to use a "regular" dictionary, but this app has more words than our classroom dictionaries and it really makes looking up word meanings more interesting for the students.  They can be exposed to inappropriate words with the app, but with training and classroom management it has not been a problem with my fourth graders.  We have discussed appropriate use of this app. With all of the possibilities of inappropriate use of technology out there, I think frank conversation really is important so they can learn to censor what they do!

Coin Toss App- Probability Grade 4 Math SOL 4.19

The Coin Toss App was a wonderfully different way to do an old and often used activity to teach probability- that of tossing a coin to gather data on the 50/ 50 chance of tossing heads or tails. One advantage of using this app rather than a "real" coin was the fact that the coin did not "fly" all over the room. One disadvantage to using this app is that after a few minutes of use, the app will not work any more.  It seems to have a time limit on its use.  I am still exploring the reason for this "glitch" in the app.  Any ideas from my followers would be appreciated!

Random Number Generator App- Probability Grade 4 Math SOL 4.19

This week I used the Random Number Generator App while teaching probability.  They students began by writing all of the numbers from 1-20.  Then they circled the even numbers.  I asked them some questions about those numbers.  After completing that introductory activity, they were to open the Random Number Generator App and set it to generated numbers 1-20 as well as repeat numbers randomly.  They then generated 20 numbers and recorded their results.  After gathering their information, they answered some questions comparing their results with the probability questions asked before gathering their information.

This was a wonderful way to use this app for probability.  The students loved it and were engaged throughout the entire lesson.