Technology Reflection iPads in the classrooms

Description/Experience
Last Friday in seminar we learned about the iPad and its integration into West Virginia classrooms. Our speaker talked to us about how she and her school use the iPad. The school received a grant that allows them to have 1 iPad per teacher and 2 iPads per classroom from 3^rd to 5^th grade. She then showed us how she uses it, and how it is used in the classroom. I think that, if the iPad was cheaper, the iPad should become an integral part of the school. The only major drawback I can think of with giving it a more important role in the classroom is that technology is always changing and it would quickly become out of date, both in hardware and software (Apps).Application
She could use the iPad to teach a math lesson teaching the students how to multiply using tables and lattices. The teacher could have the students using the iPads open an App that would let the students copy down what the teacher writes down on the chalkboard. For example have the student copy down either the table or lattice, and then follow along with the teacher. The student could then use a math multiplication App to test their knowledge.

I would use this application of the iPad with any student who is at the level of multiplying numbers that are larger than ten. The students would gain knowledge of multiplication with bigger number, for example 97 x 42, as well as gaining knowledge of using the iPad, and technology in general. At the end of this activity students would be able to use an iPad, including certain Apps, and multiply using the table or lattice method. I would assess the students by having them use an App that would generate a score at the end, that I would use instead of, or addition too, a worksheet grade.

• I would first show the students what we will be doing today, enough that the students would have a basic understanding of using the table or lattice method of multiplication.
• I would next randomly chose several students to join a small group and use the iPad for further instruction, while the rest of the class would work from the book for practice until they feel they are ready to complete a worksheet.
• In the small group student would copy down my process in a drawing App. After they developed a better understanding of one of the methods I would have them open a math App that would give them a list of problems to complete and when their time is up I would copy down their score.
• The students in the small group would exit out of the math App and open the drawing App for the next group of students.
• Once all of the students had a turn, I would pass out a worksheet for everyone to complete.
• By the end of this activity every student would have used the iPad and received a score for both the iPad and the worksheet.

Reflection
The iPad would support the students learning by helping gain an understanding of multiplication using different methods, and gain a general understanding of technology. In our ever-growing world of technology students need to learn at a young age how to use technology appropriately and effectively.

--Pedagogy-Content:

I would illustrate to the students that when using the table method you look at one row and multiply each column, then move on to the next row. For the lattice method I would show the students that you add along the diagonal to get your final answer. One concern would be that most students would not have learned this method. The method is only for multiplying numbers that have two or more digits which some students will not be ready to learn until they have hit a certain level. Plus not all students learned how to do basic multiplication the same way.

--Technology-Pedagogy:

I would have the students use the iPad to complete math activities similar to a worksheet. The iPad would work in addition to the classroom instruction and worksheet. The Apps would show me where the students are in their level of comprehension. The main difficulty of classroom management would be working with the small group of four or five students, while managing the entire class. Plus whenever you add technology “toys” into the mix, you have to keep a constant eye on the group with the iPads.

--Technology-Content:

Using the iPad to teach the content would not differ too much from instruction on the blackboard or overhead projector, but it gives the students an opportunity to use technology which generally gets their attention anyway. The iPad would reinforce the material more than teach the material, by using it in conjunction with a worksheet it only server as more practice which might be more disguised as a fun activity rather than a boring worksheet. While there might be an instructional App to teach this style of multiplication, I think that as long as the students get the opportunity to use technology, rather than a pencil and paper, they will understand more of the content without becoming board.

--Technology-Pedagogy-Content:

One point that would make this technology effective would be that if one of your students is behind, you can simply have that student work on a separate App that could lead up to what the rest of the students are working out. Whether or not your school has access to enough iPads for your entire classroom, I feel this would be easier to teach in small groups, because it would be very difficult to monitor an entire class on iPads while teaching at the same time. Plus with smaller groups of students, as opposed to a whole class setting, will promote more of a individual work atmosphere, which should limit talking or other distracting behaviors.