Week 7 Reflection: One Best Thing - Digital Discourse in Mathematics: Strategies for the Young Learner
The One Best Thing iBook I reviewed was Digital Discourse in Mathematics: Strategies for the Young Learner. In this iBook, Kristin Ziemke shared how she incorporated technology into her 1st grade math class. She made it so that her students could better share ideas, communicate, discuss, and learn from each other. |
In Kristin Ziemke’s class, they use iPads and MacBooks. By using this technology in math, students can share their own ideas by using drawings, pictures on an app, making a video, writing in a discussion post, or by Tweeting. Also by using this technology Ziemke allows her students, those who that may be too shy to raise their hand and share in class, to be active participants in her class. Additionally, technology allows students to share all at once instead of one at a time. The use of the different apps also allows the teacher to see each student’s thinking process, which can help the teacher to guide the student's learning and provide effective feedback. Kristin Ziemke likes using technology because she can build online student portfolios by compiling the students’ work they send her.
Some of the apps this class uses include Drawing Pad and Doodle Buddy. These apps allow students to draw or write out their thinking processes as well as save and share their work with others. The multiple colors available on these apps can help a child’s learning, such as with grouping, counting, or solving a problem step-by-step. When students show their work and share with others, other students can learn new ways and strategies to solve problems. This can allow them to see the same problem solved in multiple ways. Every student learns differently, so by sharing their ideas, students can strengthen their problem solving skills and connect their ideas with others. Likewise, by explaining their thought process, they are talking their way through how they solved the problem, thus improving their math language skills.
Not only does Kristin Ziemke’s class show their work by drawing it out, they also type and have conversations with each other. She uses Edmodo so her students can have discussions via online discussion board. These apps allow students to see other students’ thought processes and provide feedback to each other. Online chats are great for students to work at their own pace. Some may post an answer right away, whereas others may read posts, gather ideas, and take time to formulate an answer. These discussions can easily be saved so a teacher can go back and look at the various student answers when they have more time to evaluate them. The class also uses Twitter so that they can connect with other students around the world about math as well as other subjects.
Lastly, the classroom created videos, such as iMovies, to explain different math solving strategies. This is yet another way for students to share their problem solving strategies as well as help teachers to see students’ learning process. I think by using all these different ways of learning, students can not only be more creative with their learning, but can also internalize those concepts being taught. After reading this One Best Thing iBook, I can better see how technology can be integrated and effective in math lessons.